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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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y 


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28X 


32X 


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Bibliothdque  IVIorisset 
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empreinte. 

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symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1  2  3 


32X 


1 

2 

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A( 


-!• 


INDIAN  NARRATIVES: 


OONTAININO 


A  CORRECT  AND   INTERESTING  HISTORY 


OF  THB 


INDIAN    WARS, 


PBOM  THE 


LANDING   OF  OUR  PILGRIM  FATHERS,    320, 


TO 


GEN.  WAYNE'S  VICTORY,   1794. 


TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED 


A  COBRECT  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CAPTURE  AND  SUFFERINGS  OF  MRS.  JOHNSON 
ZADOCK  STEELE,  AND  OTHERS ;    AND  ALSO  A  THRILLTNG  - 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  BURNING  OF  ROYALTON. 


children  of  tt,  and  let  your  ciUldren  tell  tt  Ir  children,  wd  their  childien  mother 
(enenktlon.    -  Jokl. 


^ 


CLAREMONT.N.  H.! 
TRACY    AND    BROTHERS. 


BIBLIOTFiECA 


\ 


*^^^  ne 


▼:ens' 


STEEEOTYPBD  AT  THE 
BOSTON    STEREOTYPB    POUyDKT. 


PREFACE. 


The  proper  use  of  a  preface  appears  to  be,  to  ^ve  the 
reader  information  which  may  be  useful  during  the  perusal 
of  the  work  to  which  it  is  prefixed  — to  explain  its  nature 
and  object. 

As  to  the  nature  of  the  work,  it  is,  I  hope,  pretty  clearly 
stated  in  the  titlepage;  as  to  the  object,  it  is  to  preserve 
in  memory  the  suflferings  of  our  fathers ;  and  as  there  are 
but  a  very  few  of  the  original  copies  of  this  work  in  exist- 
ence, and  those  few  nearly  destroyed,  it  was  with  great 
difficulty  the  publishers  could  find  a  perfect  copy  of  the 
original,  as  nearly  fifty  years  have  passed  since  its  pub- 
lication. Consequently  we  felt  it  a  duty  which  we  owed  to 
our  fathers  and  to  posterity  to  reprint  it,  hoping  it  will 
meet  public  favor. 

Clasemont,  N.  H, 

0) 


CONTENTS. 

PAoa 
DiscovKRY  OF  America  bt  Christopher  Columbus,  .  .      5 

Landing  of  our  Forefathers  at  Plymouth 13 

Commencement  of  Hostilities  with  the  Natives    .  .    24 
Washington's    Expedition  in  1753,  and   Defeat  .of 

General  Braddock  by  the  Indians  in  1755,  ...    83 
Expedition  and  Defeat  of  General  IIarmer  by  the 

Indians,  1790, gg 

Expeditions  of  Generals    Scott  and  Wilkinson  in 

May  and  August,  1791, 94 

Defeat  of  General  St.  Clair  by  the  Indians,  1791,  .  109 
Depredations  of  the  Indians  on  the  Frontiers   in 

1791,  1792,  and   1793, jjg 

Defeat  of  the  Indians  by  General  Wayne,  August 

20.™, J22 

A   Narrative  of  the   Captivity  of  Mrs.  Johnson,  .  .  128 

Burning  of  Royalton, jgg 

Captivity  of  Zadock  Steele, 209 


(4) 


n 


i 


INDIAN   NAKEATIVES. 


PAoa 
5 

13 

24 

83 

89 

94 
109 

118 


DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA  BY  CHRISTOPHER 

COLUMBUS. 

Mankind  owe  the  discovery  of  the  western  world  to  the 
gold,  the  silver,  the  precious  stones,  the  spices,  silks,  and  costly 
manufactures  of  the  East;  and  even  those  incentives  were  for 
a  considerable  time  insufficient  to  prompt  to  the  undertaking, 
although  the  most  skilful  navigator  of  the  age  proffered  to' 
risk  his  life  in  the  attempt. 

Christopher  Columbus,  who  was  destined  to  the  high  honor 
of  revealing  a  new  hemisphere  to  Europeans,  was  by  birth  a 
Genoese,  who  had  been  early  trained  to  a  seafaring  life,  and, 
having  acquired  every  branch  of  knowledge  connected  with 
that  profession,  was  no  less  distinguished  by  his  skill  and  abil- 
ities  than  for  his  intrepid  and  persevering  spirit.      This  man, 
when  about  forty  years  of  age,  had  foimcd  ti.e  great  idea  of 
reaclnng  the  East  Indies  by  sailing  westward  ;  but  as  his  for- 
tune  was  very  small,  and  the  attempt  required  very  effectual 
patronage,  desirous  that  his  native  country  should  profit  by 
his  success,  he  laid  his  plan  before  the  senate  of  Genoa ;  but 
the  scheme  appearing  chimerical,  it  was  rejected.     He  then 
repaired  to  the  court  of  Portugal ;  and  although  the  Portu- 
guese were  at  that  time  distinguished  for  their  commercial 
spirit,  and  John  II.,  who  then  reigned,  was  a  discerning  and 
entei^nsmg  prince,  yet  the  prepossessions  of  the  great  men 
1*  (.^) 


3fe 


INDIAN   NARRATIVEa. 

In  his  court,  to  whom  the  mntter  was  referred,  caused  Colum- 
bus finally  to  fail  i„  his  attempt  there  also.     He  next  applied 
to  Fmlinand  a.nl  Isabella,  King  and  Queen  of  Arragon  and 
Castile,  and  at  the  same  time  sent  his  brother  Bartholomew 
(who  followed  the  same  profession,  an -i  -vho  was  well  qualified 
to  fill  the  immediate  i)lace  under  such  a  leader)  to  England 
to  lay  the  proposal  before  Henry  VH.,  which  likewise, #eery 
fortunately  for  the  future  well  being  of  the  country,  met  with 
no  success.     Many  were  the  years  which  Christopher  Colum- 
bus  spent  in  ineffectual  attendance  at  the  Castilian  court;  the 
unpovenshed  state  into  which  the  finances  of  the  united  kinrr. 
doms  were  reduced,  the  war  with  Grenada,  repressing  every 
disposition  to  attempt  to  great  designs;  but  the  war  being  at 
length  terminated,  the  powerful  mind  of  Isabella  broke  through 
all  obstacles :  she  declared  herself  the  patroness  of  Columbus  • 
whilst  her  husband,  Ferdinand,  declining  to  partake  as  an  ad- 
venturer in  the  voyage,  only  gave  it  the  sanction  of  his  name. 
Ihus  did  the  superior  genius  of  a  woman  effect  the  discovery 
ot  one  half  of  the  globe. 

The  ships  sent  on  this  important  search  were  only  three  in 
number,  two  of  them  veiy  small ;  they  had  ninety  men  on 
board.  Although  the  expense  of  the  expedition  had  Ion-  re- 
mained the  sole  obstacle  to  its  being  undertaken,  yet,  when 
every  thing  was  provided,  the  cost  did  not  amount  to  more 
than  seventeen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty  dollars,  and 
there  were  twelve  months'  provision  put  on  board. 

Columbus  set  sail  ^rora  Port  Palos,  in  the  Province  o*^  An- 
dalusia,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1492:  he  proceeded  to  the  Ca- 
nary  Islands,  and  from  thence  directed  his  course  due  west 
m  the  latitude  of  about  28  north.  In  this  course  he  continued 
for  two  months  without  falling  in  with  any  land,  which  caused 
such  a  spirit  of  discontent  and  mutiny  to  arise  as  the  superior 
address  and  management  of  the  commander  became  unequal 
to  suppress,  although  for  these  qualities  he  was  eminently 
distmguished.     He  was  at  length  reduced  to  the  necessity  of 


t)l3COVEHV    OF"   AMERICA    DV   COLUMBUS.  7 

entering  into  a  solemn  enn^n^^ement  to  nban.lon  the  enforpriw 
and  return  home  if  land  di.l  not  appear  in  three  ,h.y..  Prob- 
ably he  would  not  have  been  able  to  retain  his  people  so  lon.^ 
from  acts  of  violence  and  outrage,  in  pursuing  so  untried  anS 
dreary  a  course,  had  they  not  been  sensible  that  their  safety 
in  returnmg  home  depended  very  nn.ch  on  his  skill  aa  a  nav-. 
igator  in  conducting  the  vessel. 

At  length  the  appearance  of  land  changed  their  despond- 
eney  to  the  most  exulting  rapture.     It  was  an  island  ablund- 
Zrt  '"''"''^"^•:'  '^^''^  —  -»•  -'--eh  were  quite  naked, 
uZruTVr)  ""^''^'  '^"^   "--Pccting.      Columbu 
named  ,t  San  Salvador;  it  is  one  of  the  cluster  which  bears 
he  general  name  of  Bahama;  it  was  only  3»  SO'  latitude  to 
^e  sout    of  the  Island  of  Gomora,  one  of 'he  Canaries,  fW 
.vlence  he  took  h.s  departure.     This  navigator  was  still  so 
confirmed  ,n  the  opinion  which  he  had  formed  before  he  un- 
dertook the  voyage  that  he  believed  himself  then  to  be  on  an 
island  winch  was  situated  adjacent  to  the  Indies.     Proceeding 
to  the  south,  he  saw  three  other  islands,  which  he  named  St 
Mary  of  the  Conception,  Ferdinand,  and  Isabella.     At  lenrrth 
he  arnved  at  a  very  large  island ;  and  as  he  had  taken  seven 
of  the  natives  of  San  Salvador  on   board,  he  learned  from 
them.it  wa.  called  Cuba ;  but  he  gave  it  the  name  of  Juanna. 
He  next  proceeded  to  an  island  which  he  called  Espa-niola 
m  honor  of  the  kingdom  by  which  he  was  employed ;  !and  it 
st.U  bears  the  name  of  Hispaniola.     Here  he  built  a  fort  and 
formed  a  small  settlement;  he  then  returned  home,  havin..  on 
board  some  of  the  natives  whom  he  had  taken  from  the  differ- 
ent  islands.     Steering  a  more  southern  course,  he  fell  in  with 
some  of  the  Caribbee  Islands,  and  arrived  at  the  port  of  Palos 
on  the  15th  of  March,  1493,  having  been  seven  months  and 
eleven  days  on  this  most  important  voyage. 

On  his  arrival  letters  patent  were  issued  by  the  king  and 
queen,  confirming  to  Columbus  and  to  his  heirs  all  the  privi- 


8 


INDIAN    NAItKATIVKS. 


leges  contftined   In  n  capitulation  wl.ic.l,  had  been  executed 
before  his  depnrtur.',  and  Lis  family  was  ennobled. 

Not  o.ily  the  S|,Hniard8,  but  the  other  nations  of  Europe 
seem  to  have  adopted  the  opinion  of  CoUunbus,  in  considering 
the  countries  which  he  had  discovered  as  a  part  of  L.dia-- 
whence  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  gave  them  the  name  "  India's  " 
in  the  ratification  of  their  former  agreement  with  Columbus. 
i^.ven  after  the  error  was  detected  the  name  w,is  retained: 
and  the   appellation  of  "West  Indies  "is  now  given  by  all 
Ii.uro,.e  to  this  country,  and  that  of  Indians  to  the  inhabitants. 
Notlung  could  possibly  tend  more  efTeetually  to  rouse  every 
active  principle  of  human  nature  than  the  discoveries  which 
Columbus  had  made ;  no  time  was  therefore  lost,  no  expense 
spared,  m  preparing  a  fleet  of  ships  with  which  this  great 
man  should  revisit  the  countries  he  had  made  known.     Sev- 
enteen  ships  were  got  ready  in  six  months,  and  fifteen  hun- 
dred persons  embarked  on   board  them,  among  whom  were 
many  of  noble  families  and  who  had  filled  honorable  stations. 
These  engaged  in  the  enterprise  from  the  expectation  that 
Uie  new-d.scovered  country  was  either  the  Cipango  of  Marco 
Paulo,  or  the  Ophir  from  which  Solomon  obtained   his  gold 
ftnd  precious  merchandise.     Ferdinand,  now  desirous  of.sc- 
curmg  what  he  had  before  been  unwilling  to  venture  for  the 
obtanung,  applied  to  the  pope  to  be  invested  with  a  right  in 
these  new-discovered  countries,  as  well  as  to  all  future  dis- 
coveries ,n  that  direction;  but  as  it  was  necessary  that  there 
should  be  some  favor  of  religion  in  the  business,  he  founded 
his  plea  on  a  desire  of  converting  the  savage  natives  to  the 
Romish  faith,  which  plan  had  its  desired  effect 

Alexander  VI.,  who  then  filled  the  Papal  chair,  it  ought  to 
be  mentioned,  was  the  most  profligate  and  abandoned  of  men 
Bemg  a  native  of  Arragon,  and  desirous  of  conciliating  the 
favo..  of  Ferdinand  for  the  purpose  of  aggrandi^ing  his  fam- 
ily,  he  readily  granted  a  request  which,  at  no  expense  or  risk, 


DISCOTKRT   OV  AMERICA    BT   COLUMBUS.  | 

tended  to  exfend  the  consequence  and  mifhority  of  the  Pa- 
pacy;  lit' thcrt'fbn!  lieatow.'d  on  Fndinaiul  uii.l  I.^ubclla '« all 
the  countries  inhabited  by  inlidels  which  they  had  dif^covered." 
But  as  it  was  necessary  to  prevent  tliis  frrant  from  interfering 
with  one  not  long  before  made  to  the  crown  of  I'ortugal,  he 
appointed  that  a  line,  supposed  to  bo  drawn  from  pole  to  pole, 
one  hundred  leagues  to  the  westward  of  the  Azores,  should 
serve  as  a  limit  between  them;  and  in  the  plenitude  of  hig 
power  conferred  all  to  the  east  of  this  imaginary  line  upon 
the  Portuguese,  and  all  to  the  west  of  it  upon  the  Spaniards. 
Columbus  set  sail  on  his  voyage  from  the  Port  of  Cadiz  on 
the  2r)th  of  September,  149/J :  when  he  arrived  at  St.  Espag- 
niola,  he  had  the  affliction  to  find  that  all  the  Spaniards  whom 
he  had  left  there,  amounting  to  thirty-six  in  number,  had  been 
put  to  death  by  the  natives,  in  revenge  for  the  insults  and 
outrages  which  they  had  committed.     After  having  traced 
out  the  plan  of  a  town  in  a  large  plain  near  a  spacious  bay, 
and  given  it  the  name  of  Isabella  in  honor  of  his  patroness 
the  Queen  of  Castile,  and  appointed  his  brother  Don  Diego 
to  preside  as  deputy  governor  in  his  absence,  Columbus,  on 
the  24th  of  April,  1494,  sailed  with  one  ship  and  two  small 
barks  to  make  further  discoveries  in   those  seas.     In   this 
voyage  he  was  employed  five  months,  and  fell  in  with  many 
small  islands  on  the  coast  of  Cuba,  but  with  none  of  any  im- 
portance except  the  Island  of  Jamaica. 

Soon  after  his  return  to  Hispaniola  he  resolved  to  make 
war  with  the  Indians,  who,  according  to  the  Spanish  histori- 
ans,  amounted  to  one  hundred  thousand  men ;  these,  having 
experi-^nced  every  lawless  act  of  violence  from  their  invaders, 
were  rendered  extremely  inveterate,  and  thirsted  for  revenge,' 
a  disposition  which  appears  to  have  been  foreign  from  their 
natures.  Having  collected  his  full  force,  he  attacked  them  by 
night  whilst  they  were  assembled  on  a  wide  plain,  and  ob- 
tamed  a  most  decisive  victory,  without  the  loss  of  one  man  on 
hia  part.     Besides  the  effect  of  cannon  and  firearms,  the  noise 


10 


INfI>IAX  IfAimATlVEg. 


of  which  was  appalling,  and  their  effect  against  a  numerous 
body  of  Indians,  closely  drawn  togetlier,  in  the  highest  degree 
destructive,  Colurabus  had  brought  over  with  him  a  small  body 
of  cavalry.     The  Indians,  who  had  never  before  seen  such  a 
creature,  imagined  the  Spanish  horses  to  be  rational  beings 
and  that  each,  with  its  rider,  formed  but  one  animal :  they 
were  astonished  at  their  speed,  and  considered  their  impetu- 
v^sity  and  strength  as  irresistible.     In  this  onset  they  had,  be- 
side, another  formidable  enemy  to  terrify  and  destroy  them; 
a  great  number  of  the  largest  and  fiercest  species  of  dogs 
which  were  then  bred  in  Europe  had  been  brought  hither, 
whicL,  set  on  by  their  weapons,  without  attempting  resistance,' 
they  fled  with  all  the  speed  which  terror  could  excite.    Num- 
bers  were  slain,  and  more  made  prisoners,  who  were  imme- 
diately  consigned  to  slavery. 

The  character  of  Colurabus  stands  very  high  in  the  esti- 
mation of  mankind ;  he  is  venerated  not  only  as  a  man  pos- 
sessing superior  fortitude,  ind  such  a  steady  perseverance  as 
no  impediment,  danger.-,  or  sufferings  could  shake,  but  as 
equally  distinguished  for  piety  and  virtue.     His  second  son, 
Ferdinand,  who  wrote  the  Life  of  his  father,  apologizes  for  this' 
severity  towards  the  natives  on  account  of  the  distressed  state 
into  wnich  tha  colony  was  brouglit:  the  change  of  climate, 
and  the  indispensable  labors  which  were  required  of  men  un- 
accustomed to  any  exertions,  had  swept  away  grea^,  numbers 
of  the  new  settlers,  and  the  survi/ors  were  declining  daily; 
whilst  such  was  the  irreconcilable  enmity  Qf  the  nanves,  that 
the  most  kind  and  circumspect  conduct  on  the  part  of  the 
Spaniards  would  not  have  been  effectual  to  regain  their  good 
will.     This  apology  seems  to  have  been  generally  admitted ; 
for  all  modern  writers  have  bestowed  upon  the  discoverer  of 
the  new  world  the  warmest  commendations  unmixed  with 
censure.     It  is  an  unpleasant  task  to  derogate  from  exalted 
merit,  and  to  impute  a  deliberate  plan  of  cruelty  and  extir- 
^ _  ,,  ..-.^..  avrvxvw  ivi  inuiui  wunsi 'j  out  aiiiK>ugii  a  pert 


DISCOVERY    CF   AMERICA    BY    COLUMBUS. 


u 


affectation  of  novel  opinions  could  only  originate  in  weak 
minds,  anH  can  be  countenanced  only  by  such,  yet  a  free  and 
unreserved  scrutiny  of  facts  can  alone  separate  truth  from 
error,  and  apportion  the  just  and  intrinsic  degree  of  merit 
belonging  to  any  character.  That  Columbus  had  formed  th» 
design  of  waging  offensive  v/ar  against  the  Indians,  and  re- 
ducing them  to  slavery,  before  he  entered  upon  his  second 
voyage,  and,  consequently,  before  ho  was  apprised  of  the  de- 
struction of  the  people  which  he  had  left  upon  the  Island  of 
Hispaniola,  may  be  inferred  from  hia  proceeding  himself  with 
such  a  number  of  fierce  and  powerful  dogs. 

Having  found  the  natives  peaceable  and  well  disposed,  he 
had  no  reason  to  apprehend  that  they  would  commence  un- 
provoked hostilities :  the  cavalry  which  he  took  over,  whilst 
it  tendud  to  impress  those  people  with  the  deepest  awe  and 
veneration,  was  fully  sufficient  for  the  security  of  the  new 
colony,  if  the  friendship  of  the  natives  had  been  sincerely 
meant  to  be  cultivated  by  a  kind  and  equitable  deportment; 
but  to  treat  them  as  a  free  people  was  inconsistent  with  the 
views  which  led  to  planting  a  colony ;  for  as  the  grand  incen- 
tive to  undertake  the  distant  voyages  was  the  hope  of  acquir- 
ing gold,  so,  as  Columbus  had  seen  some  worn  as  ornamentg 
by  the  natives,  and  had  been  informed  that  the  mountainous 
parts  of  the  cou-*-y  yielded  that  precious  metal,  he  had  ex- 
cited expecta'-       in  his  employers,  and  in  the  nation  at  large, 
which  both  hi    aiterest  and  ambition  compelled  him  as  far  as 
possible  to  realize.    The  Spaniards  could  not  obtain  gold  with- 
out the  assistance  of  the  natives,  and  those  were  so  constitu- 
tionalI>  indolent  that  no  allurements  of  presents  or  gratifica- 
tions could  excite  them  to  labor.     To  rescue  himself  therefore 
from  disgrace,  and  to  secure  further  support,  he  seems  delib- 
erately to  have  cle>oted  a  harmless  race  of  men  to  slaughter 
and  slavery.     Such  as  survived  the  massacre  of  that  dreadful 
day  and  preserved  their  freedom  fled  into  the  mountains  and 
inaccessible  parts  of  the  island,  which  not  yielding  them 


12 


INDIAN    NAKRATIVEg. 


■  I 


sufficient  means  of  resistance,  they  were  compelled  to  obtain 
a  portion  of  food  from  their  cruel  pursuers  by  obtaining  gold 
dust  in  order  to  support  life ;  a  tribute  being  imposed  upon 
them  which  was  rigorously  exacted.      These  wretched  re- 
mains of  a  free  people,   thus  driven  from  fruitfulness  and 
amenity,  compelled  to  labor  for  the  support  of  life,  a  prey  to 
despondency,  which  the  recollection  of  their  former  happiness 
sharpened,  and  which  their  hopeless  situation  rendered  insup- 
portable,  died  in  great  numbers,  the  innocent  but  unrevencred 
victims  of  European  avarice.     Such  are  the  facts  which  have 
ever  been  admitted ;  yet,  strange  contradiction !  Columbus  is 
celebrated  for  his  humanity  and  goodness.    But  should  he  not 
rather  be  considered  as  a  most  consummate  dissembler,  pro- 
fessing moderation  while  he  meditated  subversion,  and,  like 
most  of  the  heroes  and  conquerors  whom  history  records,  re- 
nouncing every  principle  of  justice  and  humanity  when  they 
stopped  the  career  of  his  ambition  ?     Ferdinand  Columbus, 
his  son  and  biographer,  has  with  great  address  covered  the 
shame  of  his  father;  whilst  the  admiring  world  has  been  little 
disposed  to  censure  a  man  the  splendor  of  whose  actions  so 
powerfully  fascinates  and  dazzles. 


k       i- 


f 


LANDING  OF   OUR  FOREFATHERS   AT 
PLYMOUTH. 


The  English,  conducted  by  John  Cabot,  in  the  year  1497, 
found  the  way  to  North  America  soon  after  Columbus  had 
successfully  crossed  the  Atlantic ;  but  as  the  torrents  in  that 
country  brought  down  no  gold,  and  the  Indians  were  not  be- 
decked with  any  costly  ornaments,  no  attempts  were  made 
to  explore  the  country  for  near  a  century  after  its  discovery. 
Sir  Francis  Drake,  who  traversed  the  whole  circumference 
of  the  globe  in  one  voyage  and  in  one  ship,  which  had  never 
been  achieved  before,  when  afterwards  annoying  the  Span- 
iards in  the  "West  Indies  and  on  the  main,  gained  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  eastern  shore  of  the  northern  continent,  as  he 
had  before  of  the  western  parts  about  the  same  parallel. 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  however,  was  the  first  navigator  who 
explored  the  coast,  bestowed  on  it  a  name,  and  attempted  to 
settle  a  colony. 

At  that  time  colonization  made  no  part  of  the  system  of 
government,  so  that  there  were  few  stimulants  to  abandon  a 
native  soil  for  the  purpose  of  seeking  possession  in  another 
hemisphere.  At  length  a  powerful  incentive  arose,  stronger 
than  the  influence  of  kings,  than  the  love  of  ease,  than  the 
dread  of  misery.  Religion,  which  had  long  been  convert- 
ed into  the  most  powerful  engine  which  human  subtlety  ever 
made  use  of  to  subjugate  the  mass  of  mankind,  no  sooner 
ceased  to  be  so  perverted  than  by' its  own  proper  force  it 
compelled  large  bodies  of  people  to  renounce  every  present 
enjoyment,  the  instinctive  love  of  a  native  soil,  rooted  habits, 
2  (13) 


14 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


and  dearest  connections,  and  to  settle  in  the  dreary  wilds  of 
a  far-disUmt  continent. 

When  England,  by  a  very  singular  concurrence  of  circum- 
stances, threw  off  the  Papal  yoke,  state  policy  so  predominated 
in  the  me?isure  that  the  consciences  of  men  were  still  re- 
quired to  bend  to  the  discipline,  conform  to  the  ceremonials, 
and  assent  to  the  doctrines  which  the  governing  powers  estab- 
lished.    Although  a  dissent  from  the  church  of  Rome  was 
considered  as  meritorious,  yet  a  dissent  from  the  church  of 
England  was  held  to  be  heretical,  and  an  offence  to  be  pun- 
ished by  the  civil  magistrate.     The  human  mind,  somewhat 
awakened  from  a  long  suspension  of  its  powers  by  a  Wick- 
liffe,  further  enlightened  by  an  Erasmus  and  Melancthon,  and 
at  length  called  forth  into  energy  by  the  collusion  of  those 
two  ardent  and  daring  spirits,  Luther  and  Calvin,  then  began 
to  bend  all  its  attention  towards  religious  inquiries,  and  exer- 
cised all  its  powers  in  such  pursuits.     Hence  arose  a  vast 
diversity  of  opinions,  which  gave  rise  to  numerous  sects  and 
denominations  of  Christians;  but  as  the  Protestant  establish- 
ment in  England  held  it  essential  to  preserve  a  unity  of 
faith,  those  novel  opinions  obtained  no  more  quarter  there 
than  under  Papal  power. 

In  the  year  1610  a  company  of  persecuted   religionists, 
composing  the  church  of  a  Mr.  Robinson,  having  previously 
determined  to  remove   to  a  country   where   they  might  be 
enabled  to  worship  God  agreeably  to  the  dictates  of  their 
consciences,  emigrated  to  Holland,  and  settled  in  the  city  of 
Leyden,  where  they  continued  to  reside  untiFthe  year  1620. 
Although  the  ecclesiastical  laws  of  Holland  did  not  at  this 
time  sanction  or  condemn  the  principles  of  any  particular 
sect  of  Christians,  yet  great  were  the  disadvantages  under 
which  the  emigrants  labored ;  for,  notwithstanding  the  Dutch 
gave  them  a  welcome  reception,  and  manifested  a  disposition 
to  treat  them  with  great  respect,  they  never  could  be  pre- 
vailed upon  by  the  former  to  conform  to  their  mode  of  wor- 


LANDING    OP   OUR   FOREFATHERS   AT   PLYMOUTH.        15 


ship,  or  to  renounce  principles  which  the  English  conceived 
destructive  to  moral  society ;  nor  did  the  emigrants  here 
succeed  in  other  resi)ect8  agreeable  to  their  views.  So  far 
from  increasing  their  little  Hock,  they  found  that,  in  the  course 
of  ten  years,  they  had  experienced  a  diminution  of  more  than 
one  half  their  original  number ;  many,  in  consequence  of  the 
impoverished  state  of  the  country,  had  spent  their  estates  and 
returned  to  England.  Hence  it  was  that  the  remaining  few 
formed  the  determination  of  attempting  once  more  to  seek  a 
country  better  adapted  to  their  pious  purposes,  and  such  as 
would  promise  a  more  fruitful  abode  to  their  offspring.  By 
some  the  unexplored  parts  of  America  were  proposed ;  and 
after  a  day  set  apart  for  solemn  humiHation  and  praise  to 
Almighty  God,  it  was  resolved  that  a  part  of  the  church 
should  first  emigrate  to  America,  and,  if  there  meeting  with 
a  favorable  reception,  should  prepare  an  abode  for  the  re- 
maindei'. 

They  easily  obtained  a  royal  grant  of  a  very  extensive 
tract  of  land  now  called  New  England,  whither  they  in- 
tended to  repair,  not  to  amass  wealth  or  to  exterminate  the 
inhabitants,  but  to  subsist  by  industry,  to  purchase  security 
by  honorable  intercourse  with  the  natives,  and  to  acquire 
strength  under  the  auspices  of  freedom. 

They  made  a  purchase  of  two  small  ships,  and  on  the  5th  of 
August,  1620,  having  repaired  to  Plymouth,  England,  for  the 
purpose,  were  in  readiness  to  embark ;  previous  to  which 
they  were  very  affectionately  addressed  by  their  pious  pastor. 
Dr.  Robinson,  who,  in  fervent  prayer,  commended  them  to 
the  holy  keeping  of  Him  who  rules  the  destinies  of  all  men. 

At  11  A.  M.,  with  a  fair  wind,  they  set  sail,  and  bade  adieu 
forever  to  their  native  country.  Nothing  material  occurred 
to  obstruct  their  passage  until  the  20th,  when  they  experienced 
a  tremendous  gale,  which  threatened  tb-^.  i  with  instant  de- 
struction. For  three  days  successively  .aey  were  tossed 
about  at  the  mercy  of  the  waves :  the  ships  were?  howeverj 


16 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


enabled  to  keep  company  until  the  storm  had  somewhat 
abated,  when  those  on  board  one  of  them,  conceiving  their 
vessel  no  longer  seaworthy,  abandoned  her,  and  were  received 
on  board  the  other. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  they,  to  tlieir  inexpressible  joy, 
discovered  land,  which  proved  to  be  that  of  Cape  Cod,  where 
they  with  much  difficulty  the  day  following  succeeded  in  land- 
ing:  as  soon  as  on  shore,  they  fell  upon  their  knees  and  returned 
thanks  to  the  Almighty  for  enabling  them  to  reach  in  safety 
their  place  of  destination.      But,  although  they  had  thus  far 
succeeded  in  their  views,  although  they  had  been  enabled  to 
flee  from  persecution,  to  cross  a  wide  and  boisterous  ocean, 
what  was  their  situation  now  !     Sojourners  in  a  forei-n  land 
—  t;aversing  the  broken  and    unwrought  shores  of°  a  wild 
and  unexplored  country,  _  they  found  here   no  friends   to 
welcome  them,  or  house  to  shelter  them  from  the  inclemency 
of  an  approaching  winter.     On  one  side  they  beheld  nought 
but  a  hideous  and  desolate  wilderness,  the  habitation  of  wild 
and  ferocious  animals,  and  probably  the  abode  of  a  race  of 
bemgs  not  less  wild-and  unmerciful;  on  the  other  the  briny 
ocean,  foaming  and  with  tremendous  roar  dashing  against  the 
huge  and  projecting  rocks,  wljich,  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
perceive,  marked  the  sea-beaten  shores. 

After   succeeding  with   much   difficulty  in  discovering  a 
harbor  in  which  their  ship  could  ride  with  safety,  they  made 
choice  of  ten  of  the  most  resolute  of  their  number  to  explore 
the  adjacent  country,  and  discover,  if  possible,  a  more  con- 
venient place  for  their  future  abode;  who,  on  the  mornin<. 
of  the  16th,  provided  with  a  musket  each,  set  out  for  this 
purpose.     They  had  not  penetrated  the  woods  above    hree 
miles  when  they  discovered  five  of  the  natives,  which  were 
the  first  seen  by  them  since  their  arrival.     They  were  clothed 
with  the  skins  of  animals,  and  armed  with  bows  and  arrows. 
The  English,  with  signs  of  friendship,  made  towards  them,  but 
were  no  sooner  discovered  by  the  savages  than  they,  with  a 


LANDING   OP   OUR    FOREFATHERS    AT   PLYMOUTH.       17 


terrible  yell,  fled  with  the  greatest  precipitancy.  Night  ap- 
proaching, the  English  erected  a  small  temporary  encamp- 
ment, and,  after  placing  their  sentinels,  retired  to  rest.  Early 
the  ensuing  morning  they  continued  their  journey,  following 
for  a  considerable  distance  the  tracks  of  the  five  Indians  above 
mentioned,  in  hopes  thereby  to  discover  their  habitations  and 
obtain  therefrom  a  fresh  supply  of  provision,  of  which  they 
were  in  much  want ;  but  in  this  they  did  not  fully  succeed. 
At  about  noon  they  arrived  at  an  extensive  plat  of  clear 
ground,  near  which  they  discovered  a  pond  of  fresh  water, 
and  several  small  hillocks  of  raised  earth,  which  they  con- 
jectured to  be  the  graves  of  the  Indians.  Proceeding  a  little 
farther  west,  they  discovered  a  large  quantity  of  stubble, 
which  they  imagined  to  be  that  of  some  kind  of  Indian  grain 
peculiar  to  the  country ;  they  also  discovered  a  spot  where 
they  suspected  an  Indian  hut  had  recently  stood,  as  they 
found  near  by  some  planks  curiously  wrought  and  a  small 
earthen  pot.  Proceeding  still  farther,  they  discovered  a  num- 
ber more  of  the  little  hillocks  of  broken  ground  as  above 
described,  and  which  they  now  began  to  suspect  to  be  the 
place  of  deposit  of  something  more  than  the  dead.  Curiosi- 
ty leading  them  to  examine  more  closely  one  of  these  what 
they  had  before  supposed  to  be  Indian  sepulchres,  they,  to 
their  great  surprise,  found  it  to  contain  a  large  quantity  of 
the  Indian  grain  (corn)  above  mentioned.  It  was  still  in  the 
ear,  and  excited  to  no  small  degree  the  curiosity  of  the  Eng- 
lish, as  they  had  never  before  seen  any  thing  of  the  kind. 
By  a  few  of  the  company  the  discovery  was  deemed  of  im- 
portance ;  but  by  others,  who  had  attempted  to  eat  of  the  corn 
in  its  raw  state,  it  was  pronounced  indifferent  food,  of  little 
value.  They,  however,  concluded  it  best  to  return  and  make 
known  the  discovery  to  their  brethren. 

Having  succeeded   with    some  difficulty  in    reaching    the 
place  from  which  they  started,  they  were  met  by  those  whom 

2* 


18 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


they  had  left  behind  with  the  roost  unspeakable  joy  and  sat- 
isfaction ;  to  whom  they  exhibited  a  specimen  of  the  grain 
which  they  had  found,  and  recommended  the  spot  from  which 
it  was  procured  as  the  most  convenient  and  suitable  at  which 
to  abide  during  the  approaching  winter.     The  company  ac- 
cordingly, on  the  25th,  proceeded  for  and  in  safety  reached 
the  place  above  mentioned,  with  which,  being  so  much  pleased, 
they  termed  New  Plymouth,  in  remembrance  of  the  port  at 
which  they  last  embarked  in  Europe.     Here  they  concluded 
to  abide  until  such  time  as  further  discoveries  could  be  made. 
They  erected  a  few  temporary  huts,  sufficient  to  shelter  them 
from  the  weatlier,  and  soon  after,  by  mutual  consent,  entered 
into  a  solemn  combination  as  a  body  politic  ;  and,  on   the 
10th  of  December,  assembled  to  form  for  themselves  such  a  ' 
government  and  laws  as  they  should  deem  the  most  just  and 
equitable ;   previous  to  which  the  following  instrument  was 
drawn  up,  which,  being  first  read  and  assented  to  by  the  com- 
pany, received  their  signatures,  to  wit : 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  amen.  We,  whose  names  are  un- 
derwritten, the  loyal  subjects  of  our  dread  sovereign  King 
James,  by  the  grace  of  God  King  of  Great  Britain,  France, 
and  Ireland,  and  defender  of  the  faith,  &c.,  having  under- 
taken, for  the  glory  of  God,  advancement  of  the  Christian 
faith,  and  the  honor  of  our  king  and  country,  a  voyage  to 
plant  the  first  colony  in  the  northern  parts  of  America,  do  by 
these  presents  solemnly  and  mutually,  in  the  presence  of 
God  and  one  another,  covenant  and  combine  ourselves  to- 
gether into  a  civil  body  politic  for  our  own  convenience  and 
the  preservation  and  support  of  the  ends  aforesaid ;  and  by 
virtue  hereof  do  enact,  constitute,  and  frame  such  just  and 
equal  laws,  ordinances,  acts,  constitution,  and  officers,  from 
time  to  time,  as  shall  be  thought  most  meet  and  convenient 
for  the  general  good  of  the  colony,  unto  which  we  promise 


LANDING    OF    OUR   FORKFATHKR8   AT    PLYMOTTTII.        I'J 


ly  and  sat- 
the  grain 
pom  which 
3  at  which 
npany  ac- 
y  reached 
h  pleased, 
le  port  at 
concluded 

be  made, 
ilter  them 
t,  entered 
I,  on  the 
es  such  a  ' 

just  and 
nent  was 

the  corn- 


are  un- 
gn  King 
,  France, 
»  under- 
Christian 
oyage  to 
;a,  do  by 
sence  of 
elves  to- 
snce  and 
;  and  by 
just  and 
rs,  from 
nvenient 
promise 


all  due  submission  and  obedience.  In  witness  whereof,  we 
have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names,  at  New  Plymouth,  on 
the  10th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1620. 


John  Carver, 
William  Bradford, 
Edward  Winslow, 
William  Brewster, 
Isaac  Allerton, 
Miles  Standish, 
Joseph  Fletcher, 
John  Goodman, 
Samuel  Fuller, 
Christopher  Martin, 
William  White, 
Richard  Warren, 
John  Howland, 
Stephen  Hopkins, 
Didgery  Priest, 
Thomas  Williams, 
Gilbert  Winslow, 
Edmund  Morgeson, 
Peter  Brown, 


John  Alden, 
John  Turner, 
Francis  Eaton, 
James  Chilton, 
John  Craxton, 
John  Billington, 
Richard  Bitteridge, 
George  Soule, 
Edward  Tilley, 
John  Tilley, 
Thomas  Rogers, 
Thomas  Tinker, 
John  Ridgdale, 
Edward  Fuller, 
Richard  Clarke, 
Richard  Gardiner, 
John  Allerton, 
Thomas  English, 
Edward  Liester."  " 


The  company  next  proceeded  by  ballot  to  the  choice  of  a 
governor;  and,  on  counting  the  votes,  it  appeared  that  John 
Carver  had  the  greatest  numl>er,  and  was  declared  chosen 
for  one  year. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  Mrs.  Susannah  White,  the  wife 
of  William  White,  was  delivered  of  a  son,  which  was  the 
first  born  of  the  English  in  New  England. 

On  the  21st  it  was  agreed  by  the  company  to  despatch  a 
second  exploring  party  by  water,  to  make,  if  possible,  further 
discoveries.  The  persons  selected  for  this  purpose  were  Gov- 
ernor Carver,  Messrs.  Bradford,  Winslow,  Standish,  Howland, 

Warrfiii.    Hnnkino      A1tort<>p     Tni^.,    m — 1-_    m:_i m 

.  — J ,  ,..,^itoE,j   Asjicj,  v'iixin.«,  iiiisur,   iumer. 


80 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


and  Brown  :    they  embarked  at  10  A.  JNL,  with  u  view  of 
crcumnuvigating  the  deep  hay  of  Cape  Cod.     On  the  morn- 
«ng  of  the  2;id  they  discovered  a  large  party  of  the  natives 
on  shore,  who  were  employed  in  eutting  up  a  iish  resembling 
u  gran.pus       hy  order  of   Governor  Carver,  the    EngHsh 
made  „nmed,ately  for  the  shore;  but  were  no  sooner  diseov- 
ered  by  the  Indjans  than  they,  with  a  yell  peculiar  to  savages, 
desert^ed  the.rhsh  and  fled  with  precipitancy.     The   Enghsh 
landed  and  took  possession  of  the  fish,  which,  having  enkindled 
a  fire  they  cooked,  and  found  to  be  excellent  food.    They  con- 
eluded  to  conti,.ue  encamped  here  through  the  night ;  and 
whde  employed  a  few  rods  from  their  boat,  in  which  their 
arms  were  deposited,  in  erecting  a  temporary  dwelling  for 
the  purpose,  they  were  suddenly  attacked  by  a  large  party 

them.     The  English,  nearly  panic-struck  at  so  sudden  and 
unexpected  an  onset,  were  on  the  eve  of  retreating  to  their 
boat,  when  they  were  reminded  by  their  governor  (a  brave 
and  experienced  man)  of  the  importance  of  facing  the  enemy 
and  mamtamn.g  their  ground,  as  a  precipitate  flight  might 
prove  the.r  total  destruction  :  in  the  mean  time  two  or  th^^^ 
of  the  company  were  despatched  for  their  arms,  which  having 
obtamed,  the  whole  were  ordered  to  form  a  close  body  and 
proceed  w.th  moderate  pace  for  the  boat,  and,  if  hard  pushed 
by  the  natives,  to  face  about  and  give  them  the  contend  of 
their  muskets.     The  Indians,  perceiving  the  English  retiring 
rushed  froni  their  strong  coverts,  and  were  on^he  p     "^f' 
a^^acking  them  in  the  rear  with  clubs,  hatchets,  stones,  &c 
when  they  received  the  fire  of  the  latter,  which  brough   tlfre'e' 
or  four  of  them  to  the  ground.     The  Indians  halted'  viewed 
or  a  few  moments,  with  marks  of  astonishment  and    urprise 
th  ir  wounded  brethren,  and  then,  with  one  general,  united 
yel,  which  probably  might  have  been  heard  at  the  distance 
of  three  miles,  fled  in  every  direcUon.     This  was  the  2Z 
engagement  between  the  English  and  natives  in  New  England 


•1 


LANDING    OF    OUK   FOREFATIIEUS   AT   PLYMOUTH.       21 


I  view  of 
the  morn- 
le  natives 
eserabling 
!  English 
jr  divscov- 

0  savages, 
■   English 
enkindled 
rhey  con- 
?ht;  and 
ich  their 
illing  for 
ge  party 
3  among 
den  and 

to  their 
'a  brave 
3  enemy 
it  might 
or  three 

1  having 
ody  and 

pushed 
tents  of 
•etiring, 
>oint  of 
es,  &c., 
It  three 
viewed 
Jrprise, 

united 
istance 
le  first 
Jgland, 


and  probably  the  first  time  that  the  latter  had  ever  heard  the 
report  of  a  musket. 

The  English  embarked  and  returned  immediately  to  New 
^    Plymouth,  having  been  absent  four  days  without  making  any 
important  discoveries.     The  company  despairing  of  making 
any  further  discovery  of  importance  during  the  winter,  con- 
cluded to  remain  at  their  winter  quarters  until  the  spring 
ensuing.     The  winter  proved  an  uncommonly  tedious  one'] 
during  which  a  great   proportion  of  the  company  sickened 
and  died  :  unaccustomed  to  hardship,  and  deprived  of  many 
of  the  necessaries  of  life,  they  fell  victims  to  the  inclemency 
of  the  season.     Being  thus  reduced  to  a  very  small  number, 
they  would  have  fallen  an  easy  prey  to  the  savages  had  the 
latter  (relying  on  the  superiority  of  their  strength)  attacked 
them ;  but  the  natives  having  by  bitter  experience  learned 
the  effects  of  their  firearms,  although  they  were  daily  seen 
by  the  English  at  a  distance,  not  one  of  them  could  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  approach  them  within  gunshot  until  about  the 
20th  of  March,  1621,  when,  to  their  great  surprise,  an  Indian 
came  boldly  up  to  them  and  addressed  them  in  broken  Eng- 
lish.    He  informed  them  that  he  belonged  to  an  eastern  part 
of  the   country,  and  was  acquainted  with  a  number  of  their 
countrymen,  who  came  frequently  there  to  procure  fish,  and 
of  whom  he  learned  to  speak  their  language. 

This  Indian  proved  very  serviceable  to  the  company,  in 
supplying  them  with  provision,  in  acquainting  them  with  the 
state  of  the  country,  the  number  and  strength  of  the  naUves, 
and  the  name  of  their  chief  sacliem,  to  whom  he  said  the 
land  which  they  improved  belonged.  The  Indian  being  dis- 
missed with  many  presents  and  friendly  assurances,  he  th°e  day 
following  returned,  accompanied  by  the  grand  sachem  (Mas- 
sasoiet)  and  a  number  of  his  chief  men,  to  whom  the  English 
gave  a  welcome  reception,  presenting  them  with  many  trink- 
ets which  the  natives  esteemed  of  great  value.  With  Massa- 
Boiet  ft  treaty  was  proposed  and  concluded  the  day  following, 


99 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


in  which  It  WI18  fitipulatcd  that  the  Kngh'sh  and  natives  were 
to  hye  aini..ably  together,  and  that  thi,  latter  were  to  furnish 
the  former  with  provision,  and  to  receive  in  pay  therefor  such 
articles  as  the  former  were  willing  to  }.art  with  ;  to  which 
terms  both  parties  continued  ever  after  faithfully  to  adhere.     ' 
In  May,  1621,  the  English  planted  their  first  corn  in  New 
Il-ngland.     In  July  following  their  worthy  governor  sickened 
and  died.     His  death  was  greatly  lamented  by  those  of  the 
company  who  survived   him,  and   by  whom  ho  was  interred 
with  all  possible  solemnity.     His  loving  consort  survived  him 
but  a  few  weeks.     In  August  the  company  made  choice  of 
Mr.  William  Bradford  to  fill  the  vacancy  oc  asioned  by  the 
death  of  Governor  Carver. 

New  England  from  this  period  began  to  be  rapidly  peopled 
by  the  Europeans  :  so  great  was  the  emigration  from  the 
mother  country,  that,  in  less  than  six  years  from  the  time  that 
the  first  adventurers  landed  at  New  Plymouth,  there  were 
seven  considerable  towns  built  and  settled  in  Massachusetts 
and  Plymouth  colonies. 

In  the  summer  of  1627  Mr.  Endicot,  one  of  the  original 
planters,  was  sent  over  to  begin  a  pkatation  at  Naumkea-, 
(now  Salem.)     The  June  following  about  two  hundred  per- 
sons, furnished  with  four  ministers,  came  over  and  joined 
Mr.  Endicot's  colony  ;  and  the  next  year  they  formed  them- 
selves into  a  regular  church.     This  was  the  first  church  gath- 
ered in  Massachusetts,  and  the  second  in  New  England.     The 
church  at  Plymouth  had  been  gathered  eight  years  before. 
In  1629  a  large  embarkation  was  projected  by  the  company  in 
England :  at  the  request  of  a  number  of  respi  ctable  gentlemen, 
most  of  whom  afterwards  came  over  to  New  England,  the  geii 
eral  consent  of  the  company  was  obtained  that  the  government 
should  be  transferred  and  settled  in  Massachusetts. 

In  1630  seventeen  ships  from  different  ports  in  England 
arrived  in  Ma.'«achasp.tt8  with  more  than  fifteen  hundred 
passengers,  amo.-  .vLom  ^vere  many  persons  of  distinction. 


natives  were 

ere  to  furnish 

therefor  such 

ith  ;  to  which 

4 

^  to  adhere. 
■  corn  in  New 
*nor  sickened 
r  those  of  the 
was  interred 
survived  him 
ide  choice  of 
lioned  by  the 

pidly  peopled 
on  from  the 
the  time  that 
I,  there  were 
lassachusetts 

the  original 
t  Naumkeag, 
undred  per- 

and  joined 
)rmed  them- 
2hurch  gath- 
gland.  The 
ears  before. 

company  in 
!  gentlemen, 
md,  the  geu  ■ 
government 

in  England 

}n   hundred 

distinction. 


LANDING    OP   Oim    FOflKKATIlKUS    AT    PLVMOUTH.        23 

Incredible  were  the  hard.hipa  th/jy  endurc-d:  reduced  to  a 
scanty  pittance  of  provisions,  and  that  of  a  kind  to  which 
thoy  had  not  been  accustomed,  and  destitute  of  necessary  ac 
comraodations,  numbers  sickened  and  died  ;  so  that,  before  the 
end  of  the  year,  they  lost  two  hundred  of  their  number. 
About  this  time  settlements  were  made  at  Charlestown,  Ilos- 
ton,  Dorchester,  Camb.id;re,  Koxbury,  and  Medford 

In  the  years  16ai?  and  1G33  great  additions  were  made  to 
the  colony.     Such  was  the  rage  tor  emigration  to  New  Eng- 
^nd  that  f»,n  king  and  council  thought  fit  to  issue  an  order 
February  .,  1G33,  to  prevent  it.     The  order,  however,  was 
not  strictly  obeyed. 

In  1035  the  foundation  of  a  new  colony  was  laid  in  Con- 
necticut, adjoining  the  river  which  passes  through  the  state: 
ot  this  river  and  the  country  adjacent  Lord  Say  and  Lord 
Brook  were   the  proprietors  :  at  the  mouth  of  said  river  a 
fort  by  their  direction  was  built,  which,  in  honor  to  them,  was 
called  Saybrook  Fort.  New  Haven  was  settled  soon  after  the 
building  of  this  fort,  as  was  a  number  of  other  towns  of  con- 
siderable note  in  Connecticut.     Some  dilRculty  arising  among 
those  who  first  settled  at  New  Plymouth,  a  part  of  the  inhab- 
itants,  to  prevent  any  serious  consequences,  removed  to  a 
I)leasant  and  fertile  island  to  the  south-west  of  Cape  Cod  now 
called  Rhode  Island,  while  others  settled  at  Providence  War- 
wick, Taunton,  &c.     Thus  it  was  that  in  the  course  of  a  very 
few  years  a  great  part  of  New  England,  which  so  late  was  an 
uncultivated  forest  resounding  witl,  the  yells  of  savages  and 
beasts  of  prey,  became  the  place  of  abode  of  our  persecuted 
forefathers. 

But  this  newly-settled  country  was  not  to  be  acquired  with- 
out b  oodshed.  The  natives,  although  they  at  first  appeared 
harmless  and  well  disposed  towards  the  new  settlers,  from  the 
rapid  increase  and  too  frequent  aggressions  of  the  latter  the 
jealousy  of  the  former  was  excited,  which  they  soon  began 
more  openly  to  manifest,  as  will  appear  by  what  follows. 


A"     ^' 


r 


'»  iy  - 


i  t 


COMMENCEMENT  OF  HOSTILITIES  WITH  THE 

NATIVES. 

Therj  was  a  tribe  of  Indians  which  inhabited  the  borders 
of  Connecticut  River,  from  its  mouth  to  witLin  a  few  miks 
of  Hartford,  called  Pequots,  a  tierce,  cruel,  and  warlike  tribe, 
and  the  inveterate  enemies  of  the  English ;  never  failing  to 
improve  every  opportunity  to  exercise  towards  them  the  most 
wanton  acts  of  barbarity.  In  June,  1634,  they  treacherously 
murdered  a  Captain  Stone  and  a  Captain  Norton,  who  had 
been  long  in  the  habit  of  visiting  them  occasionally  to  trade. 
In  August,  1635,  they  inhumanly  murdered  a  Mr.  Weeks  and 
his  whole  family,  consisting  of  a  wife  and  six  children;  and 
soon  after  murdered  the  wife  and  children  of  a  Mr.  Williams, 
residing  near  Hartford.  Finding,  however,  that  by  their  un- 
provoked acts  of  barbarity  they  had  enkindled  the  resentment 
of  the  English,  (who,  aroused  to  a  sense  of  theii-  danger,  were 
making  preparation  to  exterminate  this  cruel  tribe,)  the  Pe- 
quots  despatched  messengers  with  gifts  to  the  governor  of  the 
new  colonies  —  the  Hon.  Josiah  Winslow.  He  being,  how- 
ever, inflexible  in  his  deternii^iation  to  revenge  the  deaths  of 
his  friends,  dismissed  these  messengers  without  an  answer. 
The  Pequots  finding  the  English  resolute  and  determined, 
and  fearing  the  consequence  of  their  resentment,  the  second 
time  despatched  messengers  with  a  large  quantity  of  wampum 
(Indian  money)  as  a  present  to  the  governor  and  council; 
with  whom  the  latter  had  a  considerable  conference,  and  at 
length  concluded  a  peace  on  the  following  terms : 

(2'i; 


m 


TH  THE 


he  borders 
few  miles 
rlike  tribe, 
r  failing  to 
tn  the  most 
acherously 
k,  who  had 
y  to  trade. 
I^eeks  and 
ildreo;  and 
.  Williams, 
Y  their  un- 
resentment 
nger,  were 
3,)  the  Pe- 
rnor of  the 
eing,  how- 
deaths  of 
m  answer, 
etermined, 
he  second 
f  wampum 
d  council; 
ice,  and  at 

(24; 


COMMENCEMENT    OF    HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES.       25 

ARTICLES. 

I.  The  Pequots  shall  deliver  up  to  the  English  those  of 
their  tribe  that  are  guilty  of  the  deaths  of  their  countrymen. 

II.  The  Pequots  shall  relinquish  to  the  English  all  their 
right  and  title  to  the  lands  lying  within  the  colony  of  Con- 
necticut. 

III.  The  English,  if  disposed  to  trade  with  the  Pequots, 
shall  be  treated  as  friends. 

To  these  articles  the  Pequots  readily  agreed  and  promised 
faithfully  to  adhere,  and  at  the  same  time  expressed  a  desire 
to  make  peace  with  the  Narraganset  Indians,  with  whom  they 
were  then  at  war. 

Soon  after  the  conclusion  .of  peace  with  the  Pequots,  the 
English,  to  put  their  fair  promises  to  the  test,  sent  a  small 
boat  into  the  river,  on  the  borders  of  which  they  resided,  with 
the  pretence  of  trade ;  but  so  great  was  the  treachery  of  the 
natives,  that,  after  succeeding  by  fair  promises  in  enticing  the 
crew  of  said  boat  on  shore,  they  were  by  them  inhumanly 
murdered. 

The  Pequots,  despairing  of  again  deceiving  the  English  in 
the  manner  they  had  late  done,  now  threw  off  the  mask  of 
friendship,  and,  avowing  themselves  the  natural  enemies  of 
the  English,  commenced  open  hostilities  against  them,  barba- 
rously murdering  all  that  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into 
their  hands.  A  few  families  were  at  this  time  settled  at  or 
near  Wcathersfield,  Connecticut,  the  whole  of  whom  were 
carried  away  captives  by  them.  Two  girls,  the  daughters  of 
a  Mr.  Gibbons,  of  Hartford,  were  in  the  most  brutal  manner 
put  to  death  :  after  gashing  their  flesh  with  their  knives,  the 
Indians  iilled  their  wounds  with  hot  embers,  in  the  mean  time 
mimicking  their  dying  groans. 

The  Pequots,  encouraged  by  the  trifling  resistance  made 
by  the  English  to  their  wanton  acts  of  barbarity,  on  the  20th 
3 


t 


26 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


of  June,  1636,  besieged  Fort  Saybrook,  in  which  there  were 
about  twenty  men  stationed:  the  Indians  were  to  the  number 
of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  They  surrounded  and  furious- 
ly  attacked  the  fort  at  midnight,  horribly  yelling,  and  mimick- 
ing  the  dying  groans  of  such  as  had  fallen  victims  to  their 
barbarity ;  but  the  English,  being  fortunately  provided  with  a 
piece  of  cannon  or  two,  caused  their  savage  enemies  to  groan 
in  reality,  who,  after  receiving  two  or  three  deadly  fires  from 
the  besiegetl,  retreated,  leaving  behind  them  dead  or  mortally 
wounded  about  twenty  of  their  number :  the  English  sustained 
no  loss  in  the  attack. 

The  governor  and  council  of  Massachusetts  colony,  alarmed 
at  the  bold  and  daring  conduct  of  the  Pequots,  on  the  20th  of 
August  despatched  Captain  Endicot,  of  Salem,  with  ninety 
men,  to  avenge  the  murders  committed  by  them,  unless  they 
should  consent  to  deliver  up  the  murderers  and  make  repara- 
tion for  the  injuries  which  the  English  had  sustained.  Cap- 
tain Endicot  was  directed  to  proceed  first  to  Block  Island, 
(then  inhabited  by  the  Pequots,)  put  the  men  to  the  sword, 
and  take  possession  of  the  island :  the  women  and  children  were 
to  be  spared.  Thence  he  was  to  proceed  to  the  Pequot  coun- 
try, demand  the  murderers  of  the  English,  a  thousand  fathom 
of  wampum,  and  a  number  of  their  children  as  hostages. 

Captain  Endicot  sailed  from  Boston  on  the  morning  of  the 
20th.  When  he  arrived  at  Block  Island,  about  sixty°Indians 
appeared  on  the  shore  and  opposed  his  landing ;  his  men  soon, 
however,  effected  a  landing,  and  after  a  little  skirmishing  drove 
the  Indians  into  the  woods,  where  they  could  not  be^found. 
The  English  continued  two  days  on  the  island,  in  which  time 
they  destroyed  one  hundred  wigwams  and  about  fifty  canoes, 
when  they  proceeded  for  the  Pequot  country.  When  they 
arrived  in  Pequot  Harbor,  Captain  Endicot  acquainted  the 
enemy  with  his  designs  and  determination  to  avenge  the  cru-  . 
elties  practised  upon  his  countrymen.  In  a  few  moments 
nearly  five  hundred  of  the  enemy  collected  upon  the  shores  j 


■f 


COMMENCEMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES.        27 


I  there  were 
>■  the  number 

and  furious- 
and  mimick- 
ims  to  their 
vided  with  a 
lies  to  groan 
y  fires  from 

or  mortally 
ish  sustained 

>ny,  alarmed 
the  20th  of 
with  ninety 
unless  they 
lake  repara- 
ined.     Cap- 
lock  Island, 
the  sword, 
lildren  were 
equot  coun- 
land  fathom 
stages, 
ning  of  the 
sty  Indians 
s  men  soon, 
shing  drove 
.  be  found, 
which  time 
ifty  canoes, 
IVhen  they 
minted  the 
?c  the  cru-    . 
r  moments 
he  shores ; 


but  as  soon  as  they  were  made  acquainted  with  the  hostile 
views  of  the  JEnglish,  they  hastily  withdrew  and  secreted 
themselves  in  swamps  and  ledges  inaccessible  to  the  troops. 
Captain  Endicot  landed  his  men  on  both  sides  the  harbor, 
burned  their  wigwams  and  destroyed  their  canoes,  killed  an 
Indian  or  two,  and  then  returned  to  Boston.  Enough,  indeed, 
bad  been  done  to  exasperate,  but  nothing  to  subdue,  a  haughty 
and  warlike  enemy. 

Sassacus  (chief  sachem  of  the  Pequots)  and  his  captains 
tvere  men  of  great  and  independent  spirits ;  they  had  con- 
quered and  governed  the  nations  around  them  without  con- 
trol ;  they  viewed  the  English  as  strangers  and  mere  intruders, 
who  had  no  right  to  the  country,  nor  to  control  its  original 
proprietors,  independent  princes  and  sovereigns ;  they  had 
made  settlements  at  Connecticut  without  their  consent,  and 
brought  home  the  Indian  kings  whom  they  had  conquered, 
and  restored  to  them  their  authority  and  lands;  they  had 
built  a  fort,  and  were  making  a  settlement,  without  their  appro- 
bation, in  their  very  neighborhood.  Indeed,  they  had  now 
proceeded  to  attack  and  ravage  the  country.  The  Pequots, 
in  consequence,  breathed  nothing  but  war  and  revenge  ;  they 
were  determined  to  extirpate  or  drive  all  the  English  from 
New  England.  For  this  purpose  they  conceived  the  plan  of 
uniting  the  Indians  generally  against  them.  They  spared  no 
art  nor  pains  to  make  peace  with  the  Narragansets  and  to 
engage  them  in  the  war  against  the  English,  to  whom  they 
represented  that  the  English,  who  were  merely  foreigners, 
were  overspreading  the  country,  and  depriving  the  original 
inhabitants  of  their  ancient  rights  and  possessions ;  that,  unless 
effectual  measures  were  immediately  taken  to  prevent  it,  they 
would  soon  entirely  disj^ossess  the  original  proprietors  and 
become  the  lords  of  the  continent.  They  insisted  that,  by  a 
general  combination,  they  could  either  destroy  or  drive  them 
from  the  country ;  that  there  would  be  no  necessity  of  commg 
to  open  battles ;  that  by  killing  their  cattle,  firing  their-  houses. 


i 


f  I    ) 


28 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES, 


lying  ambushes  on  the  roads,  in  th.  fields,  and  wherever  thev 
the  Narra^anso^,      «  i-oquok  they  wouM  ako  soon  destroy 

•ationsXf  igh:irat:htrr" '""  '"^^  '^'''^-- 

the  savage  hear,  ofl     ^  tt.Id  tTJ'^V''''*  '""'""^ 
H  .^  said  that  for  son,e  tir.hTr  a  tZrS^d'"^^^^' 

-l^:^7n:«:Ltdtirx^^^^^^^ 

Narraganset  Indians  and  thp  .nl  V      ^  ^'^  ^''^'""  ^^^ 

to  invite  M.„t.„,^n:ns::::;t^^^^^^^ 

vitation  was  accenfnrl  h^  tvt-     *•        •  ^o^ton.     ihe  m- 

«*a  accepted  by  Miantniomi,  and  whilp   af   T^^„f 

-u  the  pU'iit^-  r;xr.„s:i?y  ::it::! 

En' i  h  brdT"'' ^'°"^'"  '■"'"''  "-  --ie"  f  he' 

'r:t"iai^:'-r^;r:e:^tr:r'^-'' 

bets  were  to  furnish  guides.  «"io<tu- 

rB-t,!'f/",T^'  "^^''  ""=  '=°«"^''  -■"  Connecticut  colony  rep- 
resented to  the  frovernor  and  council  their  desire  to  ZL    f 
jnore  effectually  .he  war  with  the  Pe,„:;;  t  "y     eCred 
to  exercse  towards  them  the  most  wanton  acts  'of  bXritv 

S  thr"':;:,"!'' """':" """  '•""  °'  j--^'  « ^-'  -»"  it 

mg  thtee  of  he,r  countrymen  was  attacked  by  the  enemv  as  it 
was  proceochng  down  the  river;  that  the  English  foTsle 
..me  bravely  defended  themselves,  but  were  at  leni.l  oTr 
powe,.cdby„u„,be,-s;  that  the  Indians,  when  .l,ey°had  s„T 
ceeded  ,„  capturing  the  boat's  crew,  ripped  them  u^  frl  T 
bo«.„of  their  bellies  to  .heir  .h.  Js  and  in  L  Zn  e 
apht  them  down  their  backs,  and,  th.,9  mangled,  hung 'hern 


COMMENCEMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES. 


29 


erever  they 
aplish  their 
lould  effect 
>on  destroy 
i  represen- 
ch  inflames 
Je;  indeed, 
ated. 

n  between 
stween  the 
messenger 
'     The  in- 
at  Boston 
y,  the  sub- 
ould  be  a 
'ragansets 
ke  peace 
lented  to ; 
es  of  the 
uld  resort 
m  notice 
rarragan- 

^ony  rep- 
>rosecute 
ontinued 
arbarity. 
contain- 
■my  as  it 
or  some 
th  over- 
lad  suc- 
I'om  the 
manner 
S  thens 


upon  trees  by  the  river  side.  They  represented  that  the 
affairs  of  Connecticut  colony  at  this  moment  wore  a  nost 
gloomy  aspect ;  that  they  had  sustained  great  losses  in  cattle 
and  goods  the  preceding  years,  but  were  still  more  unfortu- 
nate the  present ;  that  a  most  dreadful  and  insidious  enemy 
were  now  seeking  opportunity  to  destroy  them ;  that  they 
could  neither  hunt,  fish,  nor  cultivate  their  fields,  nor  travel  at 
home  or  abroad,  but  at  tlie  peril  of  their  lives ;  that  they  were 
obliged  to  keep  a  constant  watch  by  night  and  day ;  to  go 
armed  to  their  daily  labors  and  to  the  houses  of  public  wor- 
ship. And  although  desirous  to  prosecute  the  war  more  ef- 
fectually with  the  common  enemy,  they  were  not  in  a  situa- 
tion to  do  it ;  and  therefore  humbly  prayed  for  assistance. 

The  report  of  the  horrid  and  unprovoked  cruelties  of  the 
Pequots,  practised  upon  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  Con- 
necticut colony,  roused  the  other  colonies  to  harmonious  and 
spirited  exertions  against  them.  Massachusetts  determined 
to  send  two  hundred  and  Plymouth  forty  men  to  assist  their 
unfortunate  brethren  in  prosecuting  the  war.  Captain  Patrick, 
with  forty  men,  was  sent  forward  before  the  other  troops,  in 
order  that  he  might  be  enabled  seasonably  to  form  a  junction 
with  the  troops  in  Connecticut,  who,  notwithstanding  their 
weak  and  distressed  state,  had  engaged  to  furnish  ninety  men. 

On  Wednesday,  the  10th  of  May,  the  Connecticut  troops 
proceeded  for  their  fort  at  Saybrook.  They  consisted  of 
ninety  Englishmen  and  seventy  Mohogan  and  river  Indians  — 
the  hitter  commanded  by  Uncus,  sachem  of  the  Mohegans, 
and  the  former  by  Captain  John  Mason,  who  was  accompanied 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stone,  of  Hartford,  as  chaplain.  The  Mo- 
hegans, being  detached  from  tlie  English  on  their  way  to  Say- 
brook,  fell  in  with  a  considerable  body  of  the  enemy,  whom 
they  attacked  and  defeated ;  th(iy  killed  twenty-two,  and  took 
eighteen  of  them  prisoners. 

Among  the  prisoners  there  was  one  who  was  recognized  as 
a  perfidious  villain :  he  had  lived  in  the  fort  with  the  English 

n* 


■*r#^ 


4 

I 


I 


30 


INDIAN    NAKRATIVE9. 


some  time  before,  and  well  understood  their  language:  ho  re- 
inauied  attached  to  their  interest  until  the  commencement  of 
hostal.ties  with  the  Pequots,  when  he  deserted  the  garrison 
and  jomed  the  enemy,  whom  he  served  as  guide,  and  through 
^vhose  mstigation  many  of  the  English  l,ad  been  captured  and 
put  to  death.     Uncus  and  his  men  insisted  upon  executing 
him  according  to  the  custom  of  their  ancestors;  and  the  Engt 
hsh,  m  the  circumstances  in  which  they  then  were,  did  not 
judge  It  prudent  to  interfere.     The  Indians  enkindled  a  fire 
near  which  they  confined  the  prisoner  to  a  stake,  in  which  sit' 
uat.on  he  remained  until  his  skin  became  parched  with  the 
heat :  the  Mohegans  then  violently  tore  him  limb  from  limb 
Barbarously  cutting  his  flesh  in  pieces,  they  handed  it  round 
from  one  to  another,  eating  it  while   they  sung  and  danced 
round  the  fire  in  a  manner  peculiar  to  savages.     The  bones 
and  such  parts  of  the  unfortunate  captive  as  were  not  con- 
suraed  m  this  dreadful  repast  were  committed  to  the  flames 
and  consumed  to  ashes. 

On  the  16th  Captain  Mason  and  his  men  proceeded  for 
Narraganset  Bay,  at  which  place  they  safely  arrived  on  the 
^Ist.     Captain  Mason  marched  immediately  to  the  phintation 
of  Canomcus,  a  Narraganset  sachem,  and   acquainted  him 
with  h.s  designs,  and  immediately  after  despatched  a  messen- 
ger  to  Miantinomi  to  inform  him  likewise  of  the  expedition. 
The  next  day  Miantinomi,  with  his  chief  counsellors  and  war- 
mrs,  met  the  English.      Captain  Mason  informed  him  that 
the  cause  of  his  entering  his   country  with  an  armed  force 
M-as  to  avenge  the  injuries  which  the  Pequots  had  done  the 
^Lnghsh  and  desired  a  free  passage  to  their  forts,  which  th«y 
intended  to  attack.     After  a  solemn  consultation  in  the  Indian 
manner,  Miantinomi  observed  that  "he  highly  approved  of 
he  expedition,  and  would  send  men  to  assist  the  English,  but 
hat  ^ley  were  too  few  in  number  to  fight  the  enemy ;  that 
U.e   Pequots   were   great  warriors,  and  ruther   slighted   the 


COMMENCEMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH    NATIVES.       31 


jage :  he  re- 
jucement  of 
he  garrison 
ind  through 
aptured  and 
n  executing 
id  the  Eng- 
ere,  did  not 
died  a  fire, 
n  which  sit- 
ed with  the 
from  limb, 
ed  it  round 
ind  danced 
The  bones 
e  not  con- 
the  flames 

ceeded  for 
'ed  on  the 
phintation 
kinted  Jiim 
a  messen- 
!xpedition. 
3  and  war- 

bim  that 
med  force 

done  the 
hich  they 
the  Indian 
iroved  of 
iglish,  but 
my;  that 
;hted   the 


Captain  Mason  landed  his  men  and  marched  to  the  planta- 
tion of  Miantinomi,  which,  by  previous  agreement,  was  to  be 
the  place  of  general  rendezvous.  In  the  evening  an  Indian 
runner  arrived  with  information  that  Captain  Patrick,  with 
the  men  under  his  command,  had  arrived  at  the  plantation  of 
Roger  Williams,  in  Providence,  and  was  desirous  that  Cap- 
tain Mason  should  postpone  his  march  until  such  time  as  he 
could  join  him.  Captain  Mason,  after  mature  deliberation, 
determined,  however,  not  to  wait  his  arrival,  although  a  junc- 
tion was  considered  important.  His  men  had  already  been 
detained  much  longer  than  was  agreeable  to  their  wishes,  and 
the  Mohegans  apparently  were  impatient  for  battle.  The 
little  army,  therefore,  (consisting  of  ninety  Englishmen,  sixty 
Mohegans  and  river  Indians,  and  about  two  hundred  Narra- 
gansets,)  commenced  their  march  on  the  24th,  and  in  the  even- 
ing of  that  day  reached  Nihantick,  which  bounded  on  the 
country  of  the  Pequots.  Nihantick  was  the  seat  of  a  Narra- 
ganset  sachem,  who  seemed  displeased  with  the  expedition, 
-and  would  not  suffer  the  English  to  enter  bis  fort.  Captain 
Mason,  suspecting  the  treachery  of  this  fellow,  placed  a  sen- 
tinel at  night  at  the  entrance  of  the  fort,  determined  that,  as 
he  could  not  be  permitted  to  enter,  no  one  should  come  out  to 
advise  the  enemy  of  his  approach. 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th  Captain  Mason  was  joined  by 
an  additional  number  of  the  Narragansets  and  a  few  of  the 
Nihanticks.  They  formed  a  circle,  and,  brandishing  their 
scalping  knives,  made  protestations  how  gallantly  they  would 
fight  and  what  numbers  they  would  kill,  &c.  Captain  Ma^on 
had  now  under  his  command  near  five  hundred  Indians  in 
addition  to  his  former  force,  with  whom  he  early  resumed 
his  march  for  the  head  quarters  of  the  enemy.  The  day 
proved  uncommonly  warm,  and  the  men,  through  excessive 
heat  and  want  of  provision,  were  only  enabled  by  night  to 
reach  Paucatuck  River,  where  the  Narragansets  began  to 
manifest  great  fear  and  inquire  of  Captain  Mason  his  real 


INDIAN  NARRATIVES. 


designs.     He  assured  them  that 


'it 


was  to  attack  the  Pe- 

prised,  and  «hrbUed  a'dilpltJn T  """^.T  """"^  '"■ 
return  home.  "'V^'ion  to  quit  the  English  and 

He  gave  such  W„™a.i„„*'!e£Vl.'''' '''""'^ ''''"•"'■'''• 
of  the  enemy  from  ea^h  T  !  ''""*"°°  "*'  "■«  f""' 
then  from  that  ofThe  chief  It'  ""'  ""  ''''»"'"=  "-^^  "^^ 
»on  to  determine  ,0  a„ack.!l?'  '"J"''""'"^  ^"P'"'"  ^"^ 
sented  as  situated  :.teterd''oCj''-t'''^  ^t  ■^'•■^- 
men  so  much  fatigued  in  march  „^  .1  u  "°  '""""^  •>" 
"ess,  wiih  their  provilrirl?  '^/""S"""  ?"""««»  "iMer. 
-oiution  appearLTr-aZ,';:;'  n^^Vt'.^ 

s»amp!wL.  C^il"  n'r,' '""''°™  P«"«^'"^d  »  thick 

fr«m.tfo:;,xs  hitr""  r  "^ '»'  •"»•»' 

roehs,  now  known'  'hy  .he  nt     "  '  pZ". X^  '"",  '"I^ 
in  Groton  :  the  sentinel.,  xvJ,^  -sorters  Kocks,    situated 

front  of  the  m«r    dt;f  heXn   ;™*'^  ^''™™^  '" 
enemy  singing  and  danL"^  ItL^X^^raf  It^tt  '"^ 

inasing,eaetio„,:„7   rdetid'dtrre'Tal  '"f'T  ^""'' 
one  liundred  brave  mpn       a!  ^  *^'''''  ""^  ^^^^  than 

.en  were  arou^sTfroT.e.fsCrr:  '^Xt^L^  "^ 

;^erd":iXrhrct^^^^^^^^^^^ 

When  within  a  few  lodsof  the  f       r        ■       '"™^'^  *°"- 

Uncus  and  Waquash  IVL' •  e  lemt 'tl^^d-  ""*  '" 
ner  to  haranirue  and  ,„.«.. .      .u-  "^  ^"^'**»  ^lan- 

-epHed  thatt-tirir: :  '^'z!"  ?"""•••  -^"ey 

prevailed  upon  to  advanl    an7  arthf  " '  ""c^'T  T  "^ 
Captain  Mason,  .<„„a  re,„est^h:X  toti!^  rt 


^ 


tack  the  Pe- 
greatlj  sur- 
English  and 

•om  Sassacus, 
oved  faithful. 
5  of  the  forts 
!e  they  were 
Captain  Ma- 
?uide  repre- 
le  found  his 
iless  wilder- 
n,  that  this 
The  little 
.  proceeded 
*ted  a  thick 

far  distant 
n  two  large 
s,"  situated 
dvanced  in 

heard  the 
eir  fort. 
1  the  very 
the  sword 
f  less  than 
•e  day  the 
icers,  and, 
Almighty, 
wy's  fort. 
1  sent  for 
lian  man- 
■t.     Tiiey 
d  not  be 
len,"  said 
!,  but  to 


COMMENCEMENT    OF    HOSTILITIES    WITH    NATIVES.       33 

surround  the  fort  at  any  disfance  thoy  please,  and  see  what 
courage  Englislimun  can  display."     Tlie  day  was  now  dawn- 
ing, and  no  time  was  to  be  lost ;  tl)e  fort  was  soon  in  view  ;  the 
soldiers  pressed  forward,  animated  with  the  reflection  that  it 
was  not  for  themselv  s  alone  they  were  about  to  tight,  but 
for  their  parents,  wives,  children,  and  countrymen.     As  they 
approached  the  fort  within  a  short  distance,  they  were  dis- 
covered by  a  Pequot  sentinel,  who  roared  out,  "Owanux! 
Owanux ! "  (Englishmen  !  Englishmen  !)    The  troops  pressed 
on,  and  as  the  Indians  were  rallying  poured  in  u[)oii  them  the 
contents  of  their  muskets,  and,  instantly  hastening  to  the  prin- 
cipal entrance  of  the  fort,  rushed  in,  sword  in  hand.     An  im- 
portant moment  this  ;  for,  notwithstanding  the  blaze  and  thun- 
der of  the  arms  of  the  English,  the  Pequots  made  a  manly 
and  desperate  resistance :   sheltered  by  their  wigwams,  and 
rallied  by  their  sachems  and  squaws,  they  defended  them- 
selves, and,  in  some  instances,  attacked  the  English  with  a 
resolution  that  would  have  done  honor  to  Romans.     After  a 
bloody  and  desperate  conflict  of  near  two  hours'  continuance, 
in  which  hundreds  of  the  Indians  were  slain  and  many  of 
the  English  killed  and  w:,unded,  victory  still  hung  in  suspense. 
In  this  critical  state  of  the  action  Captain  Mason  had  re- 
course to  a  sncr^essful  expedient :    rushing  into  a  wi-^wam 
within  the  fr:  ,1  a  brand  of  fire,  and  in  the  mean 

time  crying  out  i.  n,  »  We  must  burn  them  !  »  commu- 

nicated it  to  the  nu  a  vhich  the  wigwams  were  covered, 

by  which  means  the  wnole  fort  was  very  soon  inwrapped  in 
flames :  as  the  fire  increased,  the  English  retired  and  formed 
a  circle  around  the  fort :  the  Mohegans  and  Narragansets, 
who  had  remained  idle  spectators  to  the  bloody  conflict,  now 
mustered  courage  sufficient  to  form  another  circle  in  the  rear 
of  them.  The  enemy  were  now  in  a  deplorable  situation ; 
death  inevitably  was  their  portion.  Sallying  forth  from  their 
burning  cells,  they  were  shot  or  cut  in  pieces  by  the  Eno-fish  • 
many  of  them,  perceiving  it  impossible  to  escape  the'^vigi- 


B4 


INDIAN  NARRATIVES. 


'Z::'  "'"  '"^'''  '"--  "-n-vea  volun.aHl,  into  .he 

ages  in  tl,e  fort  and  ^    ,  ^^^  ""''  ?''"'  "f  'he  sav- 

two  hours  Cron,  the  cfZl.  1  '"'""•     '"  '«»»  "•«« 

English  completed  tie  rw"h!"2r.v     •''  "'"""^  "^"^  '"» 
anJ  upwards  of  ei-hl  hund„ .  f  ?     *^""'""  "^''''''-rned, 

a"«  children,  the    :„:;',"■"  ""''"'''"''  '"'^^"'' 
yonng,  periled  in  proZ  o  ,  r   n -"rio^'  f^  t""  '"» 

:-:  ZnTd"''^  "■"•-  -  --dil^  'Xt  in  s 

EnX;  tre';::::^, ::  '^zrr  r^^--'-  - '-» 

(whieh,  fortunately  for  "C  a^th       ""     ""'"'  """'  "''^''' 
harbor,)  , hey  were  attacl^ed^:'  T"""'  """"^  "■  'he 

of  the  enemy,  wl.o  had  b«  '  .''"  'T  "^  ""'""  'hree  hundred 

for.  .0  assist'theirlettr   TrSL'™"  ""-S-""™? 
a  reception  that  tliev  soon  „.  °       ^'"■''  ""^  »"  "arm 

of  aetion,  where,  v"  for  »'  T  "'  *"  ''«=''  '°  ""e  tield 
".a.ks  of  horror'  and  sip ri  e  the"  TT'''  "'"■  '">P'->' 
presented,  they  stamped  bX'  1^  5  '"«  "='"'  "hich  it 
.heir  hair  fro^  tb  rt':  '  rnl'tr'  ""V""^''  ™"-  '»- 
pursued  the  English  as  tf  „■ ',b  V  '  """"  "  ''''''^°"'  J-e", 
deaths  of  their^fri td"  e^S^  «"™h.a.ion  to  avenge^be 
They  pursued  the  KmZ.^  '^"'^  "''  "■«"•  ""es. 

-•"g  at  a  distance  fromtehind^^r  1"''  ^°™«"'^^  '''°°'- 
Pressing  hard  upon  U,em  Ind  T  7  "''''  ""'*  ^''"■<^«"»» 
field.  The  Engi:  ,  ^  numbtrofth'  'T""'"  ""  °P™ 
loss  on  .heir  part,  "hen  a  ^o  fell  .I^'mo?"'""^''  "° 
ery  out,  "  Run  and  feteh  hi,  head."  Th  ^"=8""^  "ould 
length  that  they  diseh-irm.,!  ,h         '  """"^  """'"8  a' 

English  appeared  TCtT:;^^:^:  ™"'  """  """"«> 
over  the  pursuit.  supplied  with  ammumtion,  gave 


COMMENCEMENT   OF   HOSTILITIES   WITH  NATIVES.       35 


intarilyinto  the 

)f  the  light,  the 
ells  of  the  sav- 
Wendly  Indians 
In  less  than 
oody  action  the 
IS  were  burned, 
'oyod;  parents 
aged  and  the 
>f  the  English 
7-five  in  killed 

eraent,  as  the 
their  vessels, 
rrived  in  the 
three  hundred 
I  neighboring 
them  so  warm 
;k  to  the  field 
'ith  apparent 
eue  which  it 
ige  rage  tore 
hideous  yell^ 
3  avenge  the 
'  their  lives, 
times  shoot- 
d  sometimes 
Ives  in  open 
ustained  no 
igans  would 
y  finding  at 
nd  that  the 
lition,  gave 


In  less  than  three  weeks  from  the  time  the  English  cm- 
barked  at  Saybrook  they  returned,  with  the  exception  of  the 
few  killed  and  wounded,  in  safety  to  their  respective  habita- 
tions. Few  enterprises  were  ever,  perhaps,  achieved  with 
more  personal  bravery ;  in  few  have  so  great  a  proportion 
of  the  effective  men  of  a  whole  colony,  sttUe,  or  nation  been 
put  to  so  great  and  immediate  danger ;  in  few  have  a  people 
been  so  deeply  and  immediately  interested  as  were  the  Eng- 
lish inhabitants  of  Connecticut  at  this  important  crisis,  —  in 
these  respects  even  the  great  armaments  and  battles  of  Eu- 
rope are  comparatively  of  little  importance,  —  and  it  ought 
never  to  be  forgotten,  that,  through  the  bravery  and  uncon- 
querable resolution  of  less  than  one  hundred  men,  Connecticut 
was  once  saved,  and  the  most  warlike  and  terrible  tribe  of 
Indians  in  New  England  completely  exterminated. 

The  few  Pequots  Jiat  now  remained  alive,  conceiving  it 
unsafe  to  inhabit  longer  a  country  so  exposed  to  invasion,  re- 
1^  moved  far  to  the  westward ;  among  whom  was  Sassacus,  their 
principal  sachem.  On  the  25th  of  June  the  Connecticut 
troops  under  command  of  Captain  Mason,  together  with  a 
company  from  Massachusetts  commanded  by  Captain  Stough- 
ton,  were  sent  in  pursuit  of  them.  They  proceeded  westward, 
and  on  the  27th  fell  in  with,  attacked,  and  defeated  a  consid- 
erable  body  of  them.  They  took  about  fifty  of  them  prison- 
ers, among  whom  were  two  sachems,  whose  lives  were  offered 
them  on  condition  of  their  serving  as  guides  to  the  English. 

The  English  on  their  march  frequently  fell  in  with  small 
detached  parties  of  the  enemy,  whom  they  captured  or  de- 
stroyed, but  could  not  obtain  any  information  relative  to  the 
main  body  commanded  by  Sassacus.  Finding  that  the  two 
sachem  prisoners  would  not  give  them  the  information  re- 
quired, they,  on  the  27th,  beheaded  them  at  a  place  called 
Menunkatuck,  (now  Guilford,)  from  which  circumstance  the 
place  still  bears  the  name  of  "  Sachems'  Head."  The  Eng- 
lish, on  the  30th,  arrived  at  Quinnioiak.  ^now  New  Havpn^ 


36 


INDIAN   NAUnATlVES. 


Oa,  arrived  «1         „    ^  r /r,""' ""■'  •"',"-  --".•"« 

"nyono  I,,,,  ,h„  nmives  i^l/  ,•  r  r  "  '"'«'='^»«iW«  'o 
most  advisable  ,„  »u™  „',  Z  ^  '  """•"'^''■'^'  """"-'l.t  it 
-  opportunity  IZZ      T,    77  """  """"^  "'«  «-'y 

S.an.„„,  ineerpj    .'I"  J;'":':, '7"^  «™"'«'  "'™.  TLoma, 

'h™.     Hewa',  a„.„„l':.^J::"',r,r"'  '"  '7'  """ 
shed  tl,e  blood  of  Kri^li,!,™!  ■""'''  "'  ''"''  "«' 

tl.e  place,  toanVl     T  :  T"  "'™''  ""^  ^'«^'>«m  "f 

«ere  pfmir,c,l  i„  retire-  but  Zp^,'""'""""'- 
•l>at  "  tl,ey  had  both  sh  ■  l^;„,1  ?  u'^"'"'  '"'''">'  ''<«'>--'-'d 
and  would  no,  upon  ,  oh  ,e™  ^^  ?'"'"'  "^  I="g"»l">.on, 
it  out."    The  Cli  I  Z  """P'  "'^  '■'■''•  '™'  "ould  flgh 

insulting  lanluf^Te  ;   ,,""p    ^"'  '"  '"•°'"'  "'"  "-••"»  "nd 

n.ea„s  '  attreXl    Te  bo^!?/ f™"'- f  "°"  '°  ■"="- 
lay.     The  officer,  ,J,      ■     ^  ™  "■"''°"'  ''""'k'i-  de- 

ti.e.nodeof  a.  LT:;er;"'r  '''""'  '"  "P"'-  -  '" 
o.l.e,-3  for  outtingtlie  ;r„"  :  ?'"',''l  ""  "  ""  "™"'l.. 
for  surroundin/i  V  h  a  1  7"f  "  '  '""ehets. and  othe'-s 
of  whieb  plan,"  were  ll»  ''""K'T"'  °'  '""'"«'«•  ■"■i""-'r 
l-acbed  'the  Kr^Ih  tt^'^^^X'  .1^^  "''"'  "'- 
winch  ,„ea„.,  Us  eircumferenoe  m,l  mue  ,  .  T™™'"'  ''^' 

enabled  so  completely  ,„  sur^ul    .  e"e  ct?" t"'""""^ 
llieir  escape  during  ihe  niWif      Fn,.i    T     '^  P''"""' 

ll.e  Indians,  perceiving  M,!','  ^'  "'°  '"■"""«  'n''™i"g 

ti.o  ^nsiish,sra  vM  ritirrt'Vr"''  ■•-  "^ 

lines,  they  were,  however,  drit^baktiMr  T""''  ""■''■ 
next  attempted  to  force  the  li  ™  d  .fl  c"'  ''"'"^ 
troops;  but  here  they  met  wifb  ."      ,    ^         Conuect.cut 

The  contest  .,ow  heca^^e^dlsn^rscT:;  .Tl-lHr^"™' 


I 


COMMENCEMENT   OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH    NATIVES.       37 


t'qiiot  that  the 
(^8  to  the  west- 
he  succeeding 
c'h  fhey  found 
inaccessible  to 
'e,  thought  it 
loy  the  enemy 
'  n  few  6k ir- 
thera,  Tliomas 
to  treat  with 
^  as  had  not 
«  sachem  of 
of  his  tribe, 
iir  innocence, 
dly  declared 
Englishmen, 
:  would  fight 
threats  and 
w  to  devise 
further  de- 
"'nion  as  to 
the  swamp, 
.  and  others 
1«;   neitlicr 
5  night  ap- 
swamp,  hy 
i,  and  they 
to  prevent 
g  morniuif 
ned  in  by 
>ugh  their 
ss.     They 
onnecticut 
I'cception. 
'fans,  wJio 


were  about  six  hundn'd  in  number,  appeared  determined  not 
to  yield  but  at  the  expense  of  their  lives.  One  of  the  most 
resolute  of  them  walked  bohlly  up  to  Captain  Mason  with  un 
uplifted  tomahawk,  and  when  about  to  give  the  futal  stroke 
received  a  blow  from  the  hitter,  who,  with  his  cutlass,  severed 
the  head  of  the  savage  from  his  body.  The  enemy  soon  after 
made  another  attempt  to  break  through  the  lines  of  the  Eng- 
lish, and  in  which,  after  a  violent  struggle,  they  finally  suc- 
ceeded. About  sixty  of  their  bravest  warriors  escaped,  the 
remainder  being  either  killed  or  tak(!a  prisoners.  The  loss 
of  the  English  was  eleven  killed  and  about  twenty  wounded. 

The  prisoners  taken  were  divided  among  the  troops,  some 
of  whom  were  retained  by  them  as  servants,  and  the  remain- 
der sent  to  the  West  Indies  and  sold  to  the  planters.  The 
prisoners  reported  that  the  whole  tribe  of  Pequots  was  now 
nearly  exterminated ;  that  in  different  engagements  there 
had  been  upwards  of  two  thousand  of  them  killed,  and  about 
one  thousand  captured,  among  whom  were  thirteen  sachems ; 
and  that  six  yet  survived,  one  of  whom  was  Sassacus,  who 
had  fled  with  the  fragment  of  his  tribe  to  the  country  border- 
ing on  Hudson  River  inhabited  by  the  Mohawks. 

After  the  swamp  fight  the  Pequots  became  so  weak  and 
scattered  that  the  Mohegans  and  Narragansets  daily  destroyed 
them  and  presented  their  scalps  to  the  English  ;  the  few  that 
fled  with  Sassacus  to  the  westward  were  attacked  and  totally 
destroyed  by  the  Mohawks.  The  scalp  of  Sassacus  was,  in 
the  fall  of  1G38,  presented  to  the  governor  and  council  of 
Massacliusetts. 

Soon  after  the  extermination  of  the  Pequots  the  Narra- 
gansets, the  most  numerous  tribe  in  New  England,  being  dis- 
pleased with  the  small  power  with  which  they  were  vested 
and  the  respect  which  the  English  uniformly  manifested  for 
Uncus,  appeared  disposed  to  break  their  treaty  of  friendship. 
Miantinomi,  without  consulting  the  English  according  to 
agreement,  v/ithout  proclaiming  war,  or  giving  Uncus  the 

4 


I 


ii:^ 


i^-^nzof^ 


38 


INDIAN    NAKKATIVES. 


least  information,  raised  an  army  of  one  thousand  men  and 
marched  against  him.     The  spies  of  Uncus  discovered  the 
army  at  some  distance  and  gave  him  intelligence.     He  was 
unprepared  ;  but,  rallying  about  five  hundred  of  his  bravest 
men,  he  told  them  they  must  by  no  means  suffer  Miantinomi 
to  enter  their  town,  but  must  go  and  give  him  battle  on  the 
way.     The  Mohegans,  having  marched  three  or  four  miles, 
met  the  enemy  upon  an  extensive  plain.     When  the  armies 
had  advanced  within  fair  bowshot  of  each  other,  Uncus  had 
recourse   to   stratagem,   with   which   he   had  previously  ac- 
quainted  his  warriors.     He  desired  a  parley,  which  being 
granted,  both  armies  halted  in  the  face  of  each  other.     Uncus" 
gallantly  advancing  in  front  of  his  men,  addressed  Mianti- 
nomi   to   this    effect:  "You  have  a  number  of  stout  men 
with  you ;  and  so  have  I  with  me.     It  is  a  great  pity  that  so 
many  brave  warriors  should  be   killed  in  consequence  of  a 
private  misunderstanding  between  us  two.    Come  like  a  brave 
man,  as  you  profess  to  be,  and  let  us  decide  the  dispute  alone : 
if  you  kill  me,  my  men  shall  be  yours  ;  but  if  I  kill  you,  your 
men  shall  be  mine."     "No,"  replied  Miantinomi;  "my  men 
come  to  fight;   and  they  shall  fight."     Upon  which  Uncus 
falling  instantly  to  the  ground,  his  men  discharged  a  shower 
of  arrows  among  the  Narragansets,  and  without  a  moment's 
interval,  rushing  upon  them  in  the  most  furious  manner  with 
a  hideous  yell,  put  them  to  flight.     The  Mohegans  pursued 
the  enemy  with  the  same  fury  and  eagerness  with  which  they 
commenced  the  action.     The  Narragansets  were  driven  down 
rocks  and  precipices,  and  chased  like  a  doe  by  the  huntsmen  : 
many  of  them,  to  esciape  from  their  pursuers,  plunged  into  a 
river  from  rocks  of  near  thirty  feet  in  height;  among  others 
Miantinomi  was  hard  pushed :  some  of  the  most  forward  of 
the  Mohegans,  coming  up  with  him,  twirled  him  about,  and 
impeded  his  flight,  that  Uncus,  their  sachem,  might  alone  have 
the  honor  of  taking  him.     Uncus,  who  was  a  man  of  great 
J    „i,!t!.!g,tn,  iUoHin^  iOii-sf«iu  iiuc  u  lion  greeay  of  hi8 


1* 


nd  men  and 
covered  the 
Be.  He  was 
his  bravest 
Miantinorni 
battle  on  the 
■  four  miles, 
1  the  armies 

I  Uncus  had 
sviously  ac- 
vhich  beins: 
er.  Uncus, 
sed  Mianti- 

stout  men 
pity  that  so 
[uence  of  a 
ike  a  brave 
pute  alone : 

II  you,  your 
;  "  my  men 
lich  Uncus 
d  a  shower 
I  moment's 
anner  with 
13  pursued 
which  they 
riven  down 
huntsmen  : 
ged  into  a 
cng  others 
or  ward  of 
about,  and 
ilone  have 

1  of  great 
ady  of  his 


COMMENCEMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES.       39 

prey,  seized  Miantinorni  by  the  shoulder,  and,  giving  the 
Indian  whoop,  called  up  his  men  who  were  behind  to  his  assist- 
ance. The  victory  was  complete.  About  fifty  of  the  Narra- 
gansets  were  killed,  and  a  much  greater  number  wounded  and 
taken  prisoners ;  among  the  latter  was  a  brother  of  Mianti- 
nomi  and  two  of  the  sons  of  Canonicus,  whom  Uncus  con- 
ducted in  triumph  to  Mohegan.  Some  few  days  after  Uncus 
conducted  Miantinomi  back  to  the  spot  where  he  was  taken, 
for  the  purpose  of  putting  him  to  death.  At  the  instant  they 
arrived  on  the  ground,  an  Indian,  who  was  ordered  to  march 
in  the  rear  for  the  purpose,  sunk  a  hatchet  into  his  head  and 
despatched  him  at  a  single  stroke.  He  was  probably  unac- 
quainted with  his  fate,  and  knew  not  by  what  means  he  fell. 
Uncus  cut  out  a  large  piece  of  his  shoulder,  which  he  devoured 
in  savage  triumph,  declaring  in  the  mean  time  that  "  it  was 
the  sweetest  meat  he  ever  ate ;  it  made  his  heart  strong ! " 
The  Mohegans  buried  Miantinomi  at  the  place  of  his  execu- 
tion, and  erected  upon  his  grave  a  pillar  of  stones.  This 
memorable  event  gave  the  place  the  name  of  "  Sachem's 
Plains."  They  are  situated  in  an  eastern  corner  of  Norwich. 
The  Narragansets  became  now  greatly  enraged  at  the  death 
of  their  sachem,  and  sought  means  to  destroy  Uncus,  whose 
country  they  in  small  parties  frequently  invaded,  and,  by  lay- 
ing ambushes,  cut  otf  a  number  of  his  most  valuable  warriors. 
As  Uncus  was  the  avowed  friend  of  the  English,  and  had  in 
many  instances  signalized  himself  as  such,  they  conceived  it 
their  duty  to  afford  him  all  the  protection  possible.  They 
despatched  messengers  to  acquaint  the  Narragansets  with 
their  determination,  should  they  continue  to  molest  and  dis- 
turb the  repose  of  the  Mohegans.  The  messengers  of  the 
English  met  with  quite  an  unfavorable  reception,  to  whom 
one  of  the  Narraganset  sachems  declared  that  "  he  would  kill 
every  Englishman  and  Mohegan  that  came  within  his  reach ; 
that  whoever  began  the  war  he  would  continue  it,  and  that 
nothing  should  satisfy  him  but  the  head  of  Uncus ! " 


40 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


i 

■'S 


-!       i 


The  English,  irritated  at  the  provoking  language  of  the 
Narragansets,  now  determined  not  only  to  protect  Uncus,  but 
to  invade  their  country  with  an  army  of  three  hundred  men ; 
first  to  propose  a  peace  on  their  own  terms,  but,  if  rejected,  to 
attack  and  destroy  them.  For  this  purpose  Massachusetts 
was  to  furnish  one  hundred  and  ninety,  and  Plymouth  and 
Connecticut  colonies  fifty-five,  men  each. 

The  Narragansets  learning  that  an  army  was  about  to  enter 
the  heart  of  their  country,  and  fearful  of  the  issue,  despatched 
several  of  their  principal  men  to  sue  for  peace  on  such  terms 
as  the  English  should  be  pleased  to  grant.  The  governor 
and  council  demanded  that  they  should  restore  to  Uncus  all 
the  captives  and  canoes  which  they  had  taken  from  him,  and 
pledge  themselves  to  maintain  perpetua'  peace  with  the  Eng- 
lish and  their  allies,  and  to  the  former  pay  an  annual  tribute 
of  two  thousand  fathom  of  white  wampum.  These,  indeed, 
were  hard  terms,  against  which  the  Narragansets  strongly 
remonstrated ;  but,  aware  that  the  English  had  already  a  con- 
siderable force  collected  for  the  express  purpose  of  invading 
their  country,  they  at  length  thought  it  most  prudent  to  ac- 
quiesce. 

During  the  war  between  the  Narragansets  and  Uncus,  the 
former  once  besieged  the  fort  of  the  latter  until  his  provisions 
were  nearly  exhausted,  and  he  found  that  his  men  must  soon 
perish  either  by  famine  or  the  tomahawk  unless  speedily  re- 
lieved. In  this  crisis  he  found  means  of  communicating  an 
account  of  his  situation  to  the  English  scouts,  who  had  been 
despatched  from  the  fort  in  Saybrook  to  reconnoitre  the  en- 
emy. Uncus  represented  the  danger  to  which  the  English 
would  be  exposed  if  the  Narragansets  should  succeed  in  de- 
stroying the  Mohegans.  It  was  at  this  critical  juncture  that 
the  greatest  part  of  the  English  troops  in  Connecticut  were 
employed  on  an  expedition  abroad.  A  Mr.  Thomas  Lelling- 
well,  however,  a  bold  and  enterprising  man,  on  learning  the 
situation  of  Uncus,  loaded  a  canoe  with  provision,  and,  under 


COMMENCEMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES.       41 


age  of  the 
Uncus,  but 
idred  men ; 
rejected,  to 
^sachusetts 
mouth  and 

)ut  to  enter 
despatched 
such  terras 
;  governor 
Uncus  all 
1  him,  and 
1  the  Eng- 
ual  tribute 
se,  indeed, 
s  strongly 
ady  a  con- 
f  invading 
ent  to  ac- 

Jncus,  the 
provisions 
must  soon 
teedily  re- 
icating  an 
had  been 
e  the  en- 
e  English 
ed  in  de- 
.'ture  that 
ticut  were 
s  LtilJing- 
rning  the 
,nd,  under 


;l 


W 
M 


cover  of  night,  paddled  from  Say  brook  into  the  River  Thames, 
and  had  the  address  to  get  the  whole  into  the  fort.  The 
enemy  soon  after  discovering  that  Uncus  had  received  sup- 
plies, raised  the  siege :  for  this  piece  of  service  Uncus  pre- 
sented said  LefBngwell  with  a  deed  of  a  very  large  tract  of 
land,  now  comprising  the  whole  town  of  Norwich. 

The  English  in  New  England  now  enjoyed  a  peace  until 
the  year  1671,  when  they  again  took  up  arms  to  revenge  the 
death  of  one  of  their  countrymen  who  had  been  inhumanly 
murdered  by  an  Indian  belonging  to  the  Nipnet  tribe,  of  which 
the  celebrated  Philip,  of  Mount  Hope,  (now  Bristol,  R.  I.,) 
was  sachem.  It  was  thought  the  most  prudent  step  by  the 
governor  and  council  first  to  send  for  Philip  and  acquaint 
him  with  the  cause  of  their  resentment  and  the  course  which 
they  were  determined  to  pursue  in  case  he  refused  to  deliver 
into  their  hands  the  murderer.  Philip  being  accordingly  sent 
for,  and  appearing  before  the  court,  appeared  much  dissatis- 
fied with  the  conduct  of  the  accused,  assuring  them  that  no 
pains  should  be  spared  to  bring  him  to  justice ;  and  more  fully 
to  confirm  his  friendship  for  the  English,  expressed  a  wish 
that  the  declaration  which  he  was  about  publicly  to  make 
might  be  committed  to  paper,  that  he  and  his  council  might 
thereunto  affix  their  signatures.  The  governor  and  council, 
in  compliance  with  the  request  of  Philip,  drew  up  the  follow- 
ing, which,  after  being  signed  by  Philip  and  his  chief  men, 
was  presented  to  the  governor  by  Philip  in  confirmation  of 
his  friendly  assurances  :  — 

"  Whereas  my  father,  my  brother,  and  myself  have  uni- 
formly submitted  to  the  good  and  wholesome  lav.'s  of  his 
majesty  the  King  of  England,  and  have  ever  respected  his 
faithful  subjects,  the  English,  as  our  friends  and  brothers,  and 
being  still  anxious  to  brighten  the  chain  of  friendship  between 

us.   WP   flo    nnw  Pmhrnnn     tliiJ     nr«i><»t.f nnitir  *<-»     »»lo«1nr<.     nii'-'^ol'-ot! 

-     ,     ... „„      ,.j.^ ,,.!..^      ,.!      j.;.,..j3«        ,,!!,.„,,,,.- 

that  we  will  spare  no  pains  in  seeking  out  and  bringing  to 

4* 


42 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


justice  such  of  our  tribe  as  shall  hereafter  commit  any  outrage 
against  them;  and  to  remove  all  suspicion,  we  voluntarily 
agree  to  deliver  up  to  them  all  the  firearms  which  they  have 
heretofore  kindly  presented  us  with  until  such  time  as  they 
can  safely  repose  confidence  in  us ;  and  for  the  true  perform- 
ance of  these  our  sacred  promises,  we  have  hereunto  set  our 
hands. 

Chief  Sachem. 
Philip's  H  mark. 

Chief  Men. 
Pokanoket's  H  mark. 
Uncombo's  \^  mark. 
Samkama's  X  mark. 
Wocokom's  ^  mark. 
In  presence  of  the  governor  and  council." 

Notwithstanding  the  fair  promises  of  Philip,  it  was  soon 
discovered  by  the  English  that  he  was  playing  a  deep  game  ; 
that  he  was  artfully  enticing  his  red  brethren  throughout  the 
whole  of  New  England  to  rise,  en  masse,  against  them,  and 
drive  them  out  of  the  country.  The  Narragansets  for  this 
purpose  had  engaged  to  raise  four  thousand  fighting  men. 
The  spring  of  1672  was  the  time  agreed  upon  on  which  the 
grand  blow  was  to  be  given.  The  evil  intentions  of  Philip 
were  first  discovered  and  communicated  to  the  English  by  a 
friendly  Indian  of  the  Narraganset  tribe :  fortunately  for  them, 
this  Indian  had  been  taken  into  favor  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Elliot, 
by  whom  he  had  been  taught  to  read  and  write,  and  became 
much  attached  to  the  English.  The  governor,  upon  receiving 
the  important  information  relative  to  the  hostile  views  of 
Philip,  ordered  a  military  watch  to  be  kept  up  in  all  the  Eng- 
lish settlements  within  the  three  colonies ;  by  some  of  whom 
it  was  soon  discovered  that  the  report  of  their  Indian  friend 
was  too  Wcji  founued,  as  the  Indians  of  different  tribes  were 
daily  seen  flocking  in  great  numbers  to  the  head  quartera  (rf" 


I 

"t 


-4 

I 


COMMEiNCKMENT    OP   HOSTILITIES    Wmi   NATIVKS.       43 


any  outrage 
voluntarily 
I  they  have 
me  aa  they 
le  perform- 
nto  set  our 

1. 
,rk. 

>^  mark, 
mark, 
mark, 
mark. 


t  was  soon 
eep  game ; 
ughout  the 

them,  and 
its  for  this 
Siting  men. 
which  the 

of  Philip 
iglish  by  a 
y  for  them, 
Mr.  Elliot, 
id  became 
1  receiving 
I  views  of 
1  the  Eng- 

of  whom 
ian  friend 
ribes  were 
carters  oi 


Philip,  previously  sending  their  wives  and  children  to  the 
Narraganset  country,  which  they  had  ever  done  previous  to 
the  commencement  of  hostilities. 

The  inhabitants  of  Swanzey,  a  small  settlement  adjoining 
Mount  Hope,  the  head  quarters  of  Philip,  were  the  first  who 
felt  the  effects  of  this  war.     Philip,  encouraged. by  the  num- 
bers who  were  daily  enlisting  under  his  banners,  and  despair- 
ing of  discovering  cause  that  could  justify  him  in  the  com- 
mencement of  hostilities  against  his  "  friends  and  brothers," 
as  he  had  termed  them,  resolved  to  provoke  them  to  war  by 
killing  their  cattle,  firing  their  barns,  &;c.     This  plan  had  its 
desired  effect,  as   the   inhabitants,  determined  to  save  their 
property  or  perish  in  the  attempt,  fired  upon  the  Indians,  which 
was  deemed  cause  sufficient  by  the  latter  to  commence  their 
bloody  work.     The  war  whoop  was  immediately  thereupon 
sounded,  when  the  Indians  commenced  an  indiscriminate  mur- 
der of  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  Swanzey,  sparing  not 
the  tender  infant  at  the  breast ;  but  three  of  seventy-eight 
persons  which  the  town  contained  made  their  escape.     Mes- 
sengers were  despatched  with  the  melancholy  tidings  of  this 
bloody  affair  to  the  governor,  who,  by  and  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  council,  despatched  a  company  of  militia 
with  all  possible  speed  to  the  relief  of  the  distressed  inhabit- 
ants residing  near  the  head  (piarters  of  Philip.     As  soon  as 
they  could  be  raised,  three  companies  more  were  despatched, 
under  the  command  of  Captains  Henchman,  Prentice,  and 
Church,  who  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Swanzey  on  the 
28th  of  June,  where  they  were  joined  by  four  more  compa- 
nies from  Plymouth  colony.     It  was  found  that  the  Indians 
had  pillaged  and  set  fire  to  the  village,  and  with  their  booty 
had  retired  to  Mount  Hope.     A  company  of  cavalry  were 
sent,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Prentice,  to  reconnoitre 
them ;  but  before  they  arrived  at  a  convenient  place  for  this 
purpose  they  were  ambup-hed  and  fired  upon  by  the  enemy, 
who  killed  six  of  their  number  and  wounded  ten.     The  report 


44 


INDIAN   NAURAT1VE3. 


of  their  guns  alarming  the  rennaining  companies  of  the  English, 
they  hastened  to  the  relief  of  the  cavalry,  who  at  this  moment 
were  completely  surrounded  by  about  six  hundred  Indians, 
between  whom  and  the  English  a  warm  contest  now  ensued! 
The  savages  fought  desperately,  and  more  thu*  -  -  aearly 
succeeded  in  overpowering  the  English  ;  but,  ve.  iuately 

for  the  latter,  when  nearly  despairing  of  victory,  a  xresh  com- 
pany of  militia  from  Boston  arrived,  which,  flanking  the  enemy 
on  the  right  and  left  and  exposing  them  to  two  fires,  soon 
overpowered  them  and  caused  them  to  seek  shelter  in  an  ad- 
joining wood  inaccessible  to  the  English.  The  English  had 
in  this  severe  engagement  forty-two  killed,  and  seventy-three 
wounded,  many  of  them  mortally.  The  enemy's  loss  was 
supposed  to  be  much  greater. 

On  the  30tli  Major  Savage,  who  by  his  excellency  the 
governor  had  been  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the  com- 
bined English  forces,  arrived  with  an  additional  company  of 
cavalry,  who  with  the  remaining  companies  the  following  day 
commenced  their  march  for  Mount  Hope,  the  head  quarters 
of  Philip.     On  their  way  the  English  were  affected  with  a 
scene  truly  distressing.     The  savages,  not  content  with  bath- 
mg  their  tomahawks  in  the  blood  of  the  defenceless  inhabit- 
ants of  Swanzey,  had,  it  was  discovered,  in  many  instances 
detached  their  limbs  from  their  mangled  bodies  and  affixed 
them  to  poles  which  were  extended  in  the  air  — among  which 
were  discovered  the  heads  of  several  infant  children;  the 
whole  of  which,   by  order  of  Major  Savage,  were  collected 
and  buried. 

The  English  arrived  at  Mount  Hope  about  sunset;  but  the 
enemy,  having  received  information  of  their  approach,  had  de- 
serted their  wigwams  and  retired  into  a  neighboring  wood. 
Major  Savage,  to  pursue  the  enemy  with  success,  now  divided 
his  men  into  separate  companies,  which  he  ordered  to  march 
in  different  directions,  stationing  forty  at  Mount  Hope.  On 
the  4th  of  July  the  men  under  the  command  of  Captains 


COMMENCEMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES   WITH   NATIVES.       45 


the  English, 

his  moment 

ed  Indians, 

low  ensued. 

"     ^^  iiearly 

•'      mately 

/resh  com- 

;  the  enemy 

fires,  soon 

•  in  an  ad- 

Inglish  had 

i^enty-three 

s  loss  was 

jUency  the 
•f  the  corn- 
am  pany  of 
lowing  day 
J  quarters 
ted  with  a 
with  bath- 
is  inhabit- 
'■  instances 
nd  affixed 
ong  which 
dren;  the 
collected 

i ;  but  the 
h,  had  de- 
ing  wood, 
w  divided 
to  march 
ope.  On 
Captains 


Church  and  Henchmen  fell  in  with  a  body  of  the  enemy  to 
the  number  of  two  hundred,  whom  they  attacked.  The  Eng- 
lish being  but  thirty-two  in  number,  including  officers,  victory 
for  a  considerable  length  of  time  appeared  much  in  favor  of 
the  savages ;  but  veiy  fortunately  for  the  former,  being  com- 
manded by  bold  and  resolute  officers,  they  defended  them- 
selves in  the  most  heroic  manner  until  relieved  by  a  company 
of  cavalry  under  the  command  of  Captain  Prentice.  The 
Indians,  now  in  turn  finding  the  fire  of  the  English  too  warm 
for  them,  fled  in  every  direction,  leaving  thirty  of  their  num- 
ber dead  and  about  sixty  severely  wounded  on  the  field  of 
action.  The  English  in  this  engagement  had  seven  killed 
and  twenty-two  wounded,  five  of  whom  survived  the  action 
but  a  few  hours. 

This  action,  so  far  from  daunting  the  bold  and  resolute 
Captain  Church,  seemed  to  inspire  him  with  additional  bra- 
very. Unwilling  that  any  of  the  enemy  should  escape,  he 
boldly  led  his  men  into  an  almost  impenetrable  forest,  into 
which  those  who  survived  the  action  had  fled.  The  In- 
dians, perceiving  the  English  approaching,  concealed  them- 
selves from  their  view  by  lying  flat  on  their  bellies,  in  which 
situation  they  remained  concealed  until  the  English  bad 
advanced  within  a  few  rods  of  them,  when  each,  unperceived, 
fixing  upon  his  man,  discharged  a  shower  oi  arrows  among 
them.  This  unexpected  check  threw  the  English  into  confu- 
sion, which  the  Indians  perceiving,  rushed  furiously  upon  them 
with  their  knives  and  tomahawks,  shouting  horribly.  The 
English,  their  cavalry  being  unable  to  afford  them  assistance, 
were  now  in  a  very  disagreeable  situation ;  the  trees  being  so 
very  large  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  use  their  firearms  with 
any  eflfect,  and  they  were  very  soon  so  encompassed  by  the 
savages  as  to  render  almost  every  effort  to  defend  themselves 
useless.  Of  sixty-four  who  entered  the  swamp  but  twenty- 
seven  escaped,  anion""  whom  verv  fortunatelv  was  their  val- 
uable leader,  Captain  Church. 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


The  English,  finding  that  they  could  neither  hring  their 
enemies  to  action  in  open  field  nor  engage  them  with  any  suc- 
cess in  the  foi'est  in  which  they  were  lodged,  returned  home, 
with  the  exception  of  three  companies  who  were  stationed 
by  Major  Savage  near  the  borders  of  a  swamp,  into  which  it 
was  strongly  suspected  that  Philip,  with  a  number  of  his 
tribe,  had  fled.  This  swamp  was  two  miles  in  length,  and  to 
the  English  inaccessible.  Philip,  who  had  been  watching  the 
motion  of  his  enemies,  perceiving  the  greater  part  of  them 
marching  oiF,  conjectured  that  their  object  wa«  to  obtain  a  re- 
enforcement  :  impressed  with  this  belief,  he  resolved  to  im- 
prove the  first  opportunity  to  escape,  with  a  few  chosen  men, 
by  water,  which  he  with  little  difficulty  effected  the  succeed- 
ing night,  taking  the  advantage  of  a  low  tide.  The  enemy 
were  soon  after  their  escape  discovered  and  pursued  by  the 
inhabitants  of  Rehoboth,  accompanied  by  a  party  of  the  Mo- 
hegans,  who  had  volunteered  their  services  against  Philip. 

The  Rehoboth  militia  came  up  with  the  rear  of  the  enemy 
about  sunset,  and  killed  twelve  of  them,  without  sustaining 
any  loss  on  their  part :  night  prevented  their  engaging  the 
whole  force  of  Philip ;  but  early  the  succeeding  morning  they 
continued  the  pursuit.  The  Indians  had,  however,  fled  with 
such  precipitancy  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  overtake 
them.  They  bent  their  course  to  the  westward,  exhorting 
the  different  tribes  through  which  they  passed  to  take  up 
arms  against  the  English. 

The  United  Colonies  became  now  greatly  alarmed  at  the 
hostile  views  and  rapid  strides  of  Philip.  The  general  court 
was  constantly  in  sitting,  and  endeavoring  to  plan  means  to 
cut  him  off  before  he  should  have  an  opportunity  to  corrupt 
the  minds  of  too  many  of  his  countrymen. 

While  the  court  was  thus  employed,  information  was  re- 
ceived that  Philip  had  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Brook- 
field,  situated  about  sixty-five  miles  from  Boston,  and  that  a 
number  of  its  inhabitants  had  been  inhumanly  butchered  by 


COMMENX'EMKNl'    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH    NATIVES.       47 


bring  their 
atli  any  suc- 
jrned  home, 
re  stationed 
nto  which  it 
mber  of  his 
ngth,  and  to 
vatching  the 
art  of  them 
obtain  a  re- 
ived to  im- 
;hosen  men, 
he  succeed- 
The  enemy 
sued  by  the 

of  the  Mo- 
it  Philip. 
■  the  enemy 
t  sustaining 
tigaging  the 
lorning  they 
er,  fled  with 
to  overtake 
1,  exhorting 

to  take  up 

■raed  at  the 
sneral  court 
n  means  to 
r  to  corrupt 

ion  was  re- 
d  of  Brook- 
and  that  a 
itchered  by 


his  adherents.     Orders   were  immediately  thereupon  issued 
for  the  raising  ten  companies  of  foot  and   horse,  to  be  de- 
spatched to  the  relief  of  tlie  unfortunate  inhabitants  of  Brook- 
field  ;  but  before  they  could  reach  that  place  Philip  and  his 
party  had  entered  the  town  and  indiscriminately  put  to  death 
almost  every  inhabitant  which  it  contained;    the    few  that 
escaped  having  taken  the  precaution,  previous  to  the  attack, 
to  assemble  together  in  one  house,  which  they  strongly  forti- 
fied.    This  house  was  furiously  attacked  by  the  savages,  and 
several  times  set  on  fire ;  and  the  besieged  were  on  the  point 
of  surrendering  when  Major  Willard  happily  arrived  to  their 
relief.      Between  the  English  and  the  Indians  a  desperate 
engagement  now  ensued :  the  former,  by  the  express  command 
of  their  officers,  gave  no  quarter,  but  in  a  very  heroic  man- 
ner rushed  upon  the  savages  with  clubbed  muskets.     The 
action  continued  until  near  sunset,  when  the  few  Indians  that 
remained  alive  sought  shelter  in  the  neighboring  woods.     In 
this  engagement  the  English  had  twenty-two  killed  and  sev- 
enty-five wounded.     The  enemy's  loss  was  two  hundred  and 
seventeen  killed,  and  between  two  and  three  hundred  wound- 
ed, who,  by  way  of  retaliation  for  their  barbarity  exercised 
towards  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  Brookfield,  were  imme- 
diately put  to  death. 

The  governor  and  council,  on  learning  the  fate  of  the  un- 
fortunate inhabitants  of  Brookfield,  despatched  a  reenforce- 
ment  of  three  companies  of  cavalry  to  Major  Willard,  and 
ordered  the  like  number  to  be  sent  him  from  Hartford,  in 
Connecticut  colony,  with  which  he  was  directed  to  pursue 
Philip  with  fire  and  sword  to  whatever  part  of  the  country 
he  should  resort. 

It  being  discovered  that  a  part  of  Philip's  forces  had  fled 
to  Hatfield,  two  companies  of  English,  under  command  of 
Captain  Lathrop  and  Captain  Beers,  were  sent  in  pursuit  of 
them,  who,  within  about  three  miles  of  Hatfield,  overtook 
and  attacked  them ;  but  the  force  of  the  English  being  greatly 


4ft 


INDIAN    NAKKATlVliS. 


I 


inferior  to  llmt  of  the  enemy,  H.e  former  were  defeated  mi 
'  t  Ik  to  the  main  body,  which  '^'f'^^^'^r^'^ 
who  had  in  the  late  engagement  been  detaehed  l.om  the.t 
who  ''»""'  ^    ^       Q     ^^      18,1,  of  September  in- 

main  body,  to  jom  1  h  h  .     U"  ^^^^ 

ir t:e:;:^>; -eltlVd'rLld  .he  .roop.  u„der  .he 
eot:rd  of  c/ptain  Lathrop  ;  that  they  were  -^"*;^  -^ 
nneioeetedly  Burrounded  by  one  thousand  of  the  enemy,  to 
Xm ley  aU,  exeept  three  who  eseaped,  feU  a  saenfioe. 
Sedefeltof  Captain  La.h,-op  took  plaee  in  ,^,e  ne-ghbor- 
hood  o  Deerfield"  for  the  defence  of  which  there  wa,  an 
Enl«U  garrison,  which  the  Indian,  were  about  to  attaA 
llL  Major  Wilterd  happily  arrived,  on  the  approach  of 

whom  the  Indians  tied.  T>i,iii„>^  Tn- 

On  the  10th  of  October  following  a  party  of  Ph'hps  In 
A^  suceesrfally  assaulted  the  town  of  Springfield  wh.eh 
t^pired  »Iset  firo  to,  killing  aV«t  forty  o  the  mhab,^ 
.1  On  the  14th  they  assaulted  the  town  of  Hatheld,  a 
:t;h  ^o  ompals,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Mosety 
mL  Appleton,  were  stationed  The  e-m?  T"™;^. 
the  alt«=k  about  two  hours,  when,  finding  the  fire  of  the  Eng- 
lilh  too  warm  for  them,  they  tied,  leaving  a  number  of  thetr 

"■^hiufltTdiurl-lf  closely  pursued  by  a  large  and 
fomidlle  body  of  fhe  English,  deemed  it  prudent  to  bend 
his  eoute  towaLs  his  old  pUtce  of  residence,  there  to  remam 

"-BuUhrcrm^^S-s  of  the  United  Colonies  duly  reflect 
infrthe  deplorable  situation  of  their  defenceless  brethren 

1  "ho  t  the  country,  aware  that  •'-- --  ' ''"  f,  """^ 
teater  "umber  of  their  savage  enemies  rmbod.ed    ban  at 

fizz  period,  who,  if  suffered  peaceably  to  retire  mto 
any  tmmcr  pe  ,  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^1^^  ,p„„g 

winter  quarters,  migni  pi uv I.  luw  t^  i„„  T)i,;i;n  in 

.  1  ^^  tn  ntfick  the  whole  force  under  Fhilip  m 

::ni„r :!«  ^o.  ...  purpose  of  which  every 


ited  and 

enemy, 
)m  their 
tnber  in- 
e  enemy 
inder  the 
shed  and 
jnemy,  to 

sacrifice, 
neighbor- 
3  was  an 
to  attack 
jroach  of 

liilip's  In- 
3ld,  which 
he  inhabit- 
latfield,  ia 
«n  Mosely 
J  continued 
►f  the  Eng- 
)er  of  their 

a  large  and 
>nt  to  bend 
3  to  remain 

duly  reflect- 
!ss  brethren 
then  a  much 
lied  than  at 
)  retire  into 
na  the  spring 
ler  Philip  in 
wliioh  everv 


COMMENCKMENT    OF    IlOSTlLlllKS    WITH    ^A^IVEfl.       49 

Englishman  capable  of  bearing  arms   was  commiiii.hj.l,  by 
proclaination  of  the  governor,  to  hold  himself  in  iciulitiess  to 
march  at  the  shortest  notice.     Tlie   lOth  of  December  was 
the  day  appointed  by  the  commissioners  on  which  the  decisive 
blow  was  to  be  -.given.     Six   companies   were    immediately 
raised  in  IMassachusetts,  consisting  in  the  whole  of  five  hun- 
dred and  twenty-seven  men,  to  the  command  of  which  were 
appointed   Captains   Mosely,   Gardener,    Davenport,  Oliver, 
and  Johnson.     Five  companies  were  raised  in  Connecticut, 
consisting  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  men,  to  the  command  of 
which  were  appointed  Captains  Siely,  Mason,  Gallop,  Watt«, 
and  Marshall.    Two  companies  were  likewise  raised  in  Plym- 
outh, consisting  of   one  hundred  and   fifty  men,   who   were 
commanded  by  Captains  Rice  and  Goram.     Three  major'*  of 
the  three  respective  divisions  were  also  appointed ;    to  wit, 
Major  Appleton,  of  Massachusetts  ;  Major  Treat,  of  Connecti- 
cut ;  and  Major  Bradford,  of  Plymouth.     The  whole  force, 
consisting  of  eleven  hundred  and  twenty-seven  raeii,  were 
commanded  by  Major  General  Winslow,  late  governor  of  the 
colonies.     On  the  7th  of  December  the  combined  forces  com- 
menced their  march  for  the  head  quarters  of  the  enemy. 
At  this  inclement  season  it  was   with  the  utmost  difficulty 
that  the  troops  were  enabled  to  penetrate  through  a  wild  and 
pathless  wood.     On  the  morning  of  tlie  9th,  having  travelled 
all  the  preceding  night,  they  arrived  at  the  border  of  an  ex- 
tensive swamp,  in  which,  they  were  informed  by  their  guides, 
tiie  enemy  were  encamped  to  the  number  of  four  thousand. 
The  English,  after  partaking  of  a  little  refreshment,  formed 
for  battle.     Captain  iNIosely  and  Cap  ain  Davenport  led  the 
van,  and  Major  Appleton  and  Captain  Oliver  brought  up  the 
rear  of  the   Massachusetts  forcee..     General  Winslow,  with 
the   Plymouth  troops,  formed  the  (•enfre.     The  Connecticut 
troops,  under  the  command  of  their  respective  captains,  to- 
gether with  about  three  hundred  of  the  Mohegan;-,  command- 
ed by  Oneco,  the  son  of  Uncus,  broi.ght  up  the  rear. 


I 
I::! 


60 


INDIAN    NAllUATlVEa. 


: 


It  was  discovered  by  an   Indian,  sent  for  that  pin-po30,  that 
in  the  centre  of  the  swamp  the  enemy  had  bnilt  a  very  strong 
fort,  of  so  wise  constru<;tioii  that  it  was  witli  ditlicnUy  that 
more  than  one  person  eonUl  enf.-r  at  one  time.     About  10 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  the   En<j;[ish,  with  the  sound  of  the  trumpet, 
entered  the  swamp,  and,  when  within  about  fifty  rods  of  their 
fort,  were  met  and  attacked  by  the  enemy.     The  Indians,  iu 
their  usual  manner,  shouting  and  howling  like  beasts  of  prey, 
commenced  the  attack  with  savage  fury  :  but  with  a  hideous 
noise  the  English  were  not  to  be  intimidated.     Charging  them 
with  une(iualled  bravery,  the  enemy  were  soon  glad  to  seek 
shelter  within  th.;  walls  of  their  fort.     The  English,  having 
closely  i)ress(!d  upon  the  enemy  as  they  retreated,  now  in  turn 
found  themselves  in  a  very  disagreeable  situation,  exposed  to 
the  fire  of  the  Indians,  who  were  covered  by  a  high  breast- 
work :  they  were  not  even  enabled  to  act  on  the  defensive. 
At  this  critical  juncture  the  lion-hearted  Oneco,  with  the  as- 
sent of  General  Winslow,  ottered  with  the  men  under  his 
command  to  scale  the  walls  of  the  fort ;  which  being  approved 
of  by  the  English  commanders,  Oneco,  with  about  sixty  picked 
men,  in  an  instant  ascended  to  the  top  of  the  fort,  where,  hav- 
ing a  fair  chance  at  the  enemy,  they  hurled  their  tomahawks 
and  discharged  their  arrows  with  such  success  among  them 
as  in  a  very  short  time  to  throw  them  into  the  utmost  contu- 
sion :  those  who  attempted  to  escape  from  the  fort  were  in- 
stantly cut  in  pieces  by  the  troops  without.    The  enemy,  find- 
in-  themselves  thus  hemmed  in  and  attacked  on  all  sides,  m 
the  most  abject  terms  begged  for  quarter,  which  was  denied 
them  by  the  English.     A  great  proportion  of  the  troops  being 
now  mounted  on  the  walls  of  the  fort,  they  had  nothing  to  do 
but  load  and  fire;  the  enemy  being  penned  up  and  huddled 
together  in  such  a  manner  that  there  was  scarcely  a  shot  lost. 
This  bloody  contest  was  of  near  six  hours'  continuance,  when 
the  English,  perceiving  the  fort  filled  with  nought  but  dead  or 
such  us  were  mortally   wounded  of  the  enemy,  closed  the 
bloody  conflict. 


•1 


COMMENCEMENT    OP   HOSTrLITrEH    WITFI    NATIVES. 


51 


P 


loso,  timt 
•y  .strong 
njty  that 
Vhout  10 
trumpet, 

of  their 
idianH,  ill 

of  prey, 
I  iruleoas 
ing  them 
J  to  seek 
li,  having 
vv  in  turn 
tposed  to 
h  breast- 
lefensive. 
;h  the  as- 
mder  his 
approved 
:ty  picked 
lere,  hav- 
iraahawks 
ong  them 
ost  contu- 
,  were  in- 
ivay,  find- 
l  sides,  in 
iras  denied 
)ops  being 
hing  to  do 
1  huddled 
I  shot  lost, 
ince,  when 
ut  dead  or 
closed  the 


The  scene  of  action,  at  this  instant,  was  ind.-ed  such  as 
could  not  fail  to  shock  the  stoutest  hearted.  Tlie  huge  logs 
of  which  tiie  fort  was  constructed  were  completely  crimsoned 
with  the  blood  of  the  enemy,  while  the  surrounding  woods 
resounded  with  the  dying  groans  of  the  wounded.  The  num- 
ber of  slain  of  the  enemy  in  this  severe  engagement  could 
not  be  ascertained  ;  it  was,  however,  immense.  Of  four  tliou- 
sand,  which  the  fort  was  supposed  to  contain  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  action,  not  two  hundred  escaped;  among  whom, 
unfortunately,  was  the  treacherous  Philip. 

After  the  close  of  this  desperate  action,  the  troops,  having 
destroyed  all  in  their  power,  left  the  enemy's  ground,  and, 
carrying  about  three  hundred  wounded  men,  marched  back 
to  the  distance  of  sixteen  miles  to  head  quarters.  The  night 
proved  cold  and  stormy ;  the  snow  fell  deep ;  and  it  was  not 
until  midnight  or  after  that  the  troops  were  enabled  to  reach 
their  place  of  destination :  many  of  the  wounded,  who  prob- 
ably otherwise  might  have  recovered,  perished  with  the  cold 
and  inconvenience  of  a  march  so  fatiguing. 

Although  the  destruction  of  so  great  a  number  of  the  ene- 
my was  considered  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  English, 
yet  it  proved  a  conquest  dearly  bought.  It  was  obtained  at 
the  expense  of  the  lives  of  not  only  a  great  number  of  pri- 
vates, but  a  great  profKjrtion  of  their  most  valuable  officers ; 
among  whom  were  Captains  Davenport,  Gardner,  Johnson, 
Siely,  and  Marshall.  On  enumerating  their  number  of  slain 
and  wounded,  it  was  found  as  follows  :  — 

Of  the  companies  commanded  by 

Captains  Mosely,  .         .         10  killed,  40  wounded. 


u 

Oliver, 

• 

.     20 

48 

u 

Gardner, 

■ 

11 

32 

u 

Johnson,    . 

• 

.     18 

38 

u 

Davenport, 

15 

19 

u 

Gallop, 

• 

.    28 

43 

1 


!l 


52 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


Captains  Siely,     . 

"        Watts, 

"        Mason,  . 

«        Marshall,  . 

"        Goram, 
Sachem  Oneco, 


32  killed,  50  wounded. 
19  "  33  " 
40  "  50  " 
25  «  37  " 
30  «  41  « 
51      "      82 


<t 


Total, 


►  ed 


290 


the 


513 


by 


part  of 


luring  the  action  oy  every 
the  army,  the  invincible  heroism  of  the  oificers,  the  firmness 
and  resolution  of  the  soldiers  when  they  saw  their  captains 
falling  before  them,  and  the  hardships  endured  before  and 
after  the  engagement,  are  hardly  credible,  and  rarely  find  a 
parallel  in  ancient  or  modern  ages.     The  cold  the  day  preced- 
ing the  action  was  extreme,  and  in  the  night  of  which  th3 
snow  fell  so  deep  as  to  render  it  extremely  diflicult  for  the 
array  to   mo-      the  day  succeeding  :   four   hundred   of  the 
soldiers  were  so  completely  frozen  as  to  be  unfit  for  duty. 
The  Connecticut  troops  were  the  most  disabled,  having  en- 
dured a  tedious  march,  without  halting,  from  Stonington  to  the 
place  of  public  rendezvous  ;  they  sustained,  too,  a  much  great- 
er loss  in  the  action,  in  proportion  to  their  numbers,  than  the 
troops  of  the  other  colonies.     The  bold  and  intrepid  Captain 
Mason,  who  received  a  fatal  wound  in  the  action,  of  which  he 
died  in  about  three  months  after,  was  the  first  after  the  Mo- 
hegans  to  mount  the  walls  of  the  fort ;  nor  did  the   troop* 
under  his  command  fail  to  follow  the  noble  example. 

The  loss  of  the  troops  from  Connecticut  was  so  great  that 
Major  Treat  conceived  it  absolutely  necessary  to  return  im- 
mediately home.  Such  of  the  wounded  as  were  not  able  to 
travel  were  put  on  board  a  vessel  and  conveyed  to  Stonington. 
The  troops,  on  their  return,  killed  and  captured  about  thirty 

of  the  enemy. 

The  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  forces  kept  the  field  the 
-greater  "art  of  the  winter^     They  ranged  the  country,  took  a 

CI  * 


COMMKNCtMlAT    OK    HOSTILITIES    WITH    NATIVES. 


53 


number  of  prisoiun-s,  destroyed  about  tbree  hundred  wigwams, 
but  achieved  nothinj^  brilliant  or  decisive. 

The  Nipnet  and  Narraganset  tribes  being  by  the  late  action 
nearly  exterminated,  the  few  that  survived,  by  the  direction 
of  Philip,  fled  in  small  parties  to  ditterent  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, improving  every  opportunity  that  presented  to  revenge 
the  untimely  iate  of  their  brethren.  On  the  10th  of  Februa- 
ry, 1078,  about  one  hundred  of  them  surprised  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  a  part  of  whom,  as  a  place 
of  greater  safety,  had  the  day  previous  resorted  to  the  dwell- 
ing of  the  Kev.  Mr.  Kowhmd  :  this,  however,  being  construct- 
ed" of  dry  logs,  was  set  fire  to  by  the  Indians,  which  the  un- 
fortunate English  within  being  unable  to  extinguish,  they  fell 
victims  to  the  devouring  Haines.  On  the  21st  the  enemy 
attacked  the  inhabitants  of  Medfield,  thirty-two  of  whom  they 
killed,  and  of  the  remainder  made  captives. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  the  Indians  still  continuing  their  dep- 
redations, two  companies  of  cavalry,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Pierce  and  Captain  Watkins,  were  ordered  out  for 
the  purpose  of  affording  protection  to  the  defenceless  inhabit- 
ants of  towns  most  exposed  to  their  iiicursion.<.  On  the  5th 
they  marched  to  Pautuxet,  near  where  there  was  a  consid- 
erable body  of  Indians  encamped,  whom,  on  the  morning  of 
the  5th,  they  fell  in  with  and  attacked.  The  enemy  at  first 
ai)peared  but  few  in  number ;  but  these  were  only  employed 
to  decoy  the  English,  who,  on  a  sudden,  found  themselves 
surrounded  by  near  three  hundred  Indians,  who,  with  their 
tomahawks  and  scalping  knives,  rushing  furiously  upon  them, 
threatened  them  with  instant  destruction.  The  English,  now 
acting  upon  the  defensive,  although  surrounded  by  five  time^ 
their  number,  fought  with  their  usual  spirit,  and  were  resolved 
to  sell  their  lives  at  as  dear  rate  as  possible  :  they  were  very 
soon,  however,  compelled  to  yield  to  the  sup(!rior  force  of 
tlieir  savage  enemies  :  but  five  escaped.  This  victory,  though 
of  considerable  importance  to  the  savages,  cost  them  a  number 
5* 


n  'i 


54 


INDIAN    NARBATIVES. 


i 


ii 


li 


1 


W 


of  their  bravest  warriors,  ninety-three  of  whom  were  the  sue- 
ceeding  day  found  dead  upon  the  field  of  action :  there  were 
in  tliis  engagement  about  twenty  friendly  Indians  with  the 
En-Ush,  who  fought  hke  desperadoes:  one  of  them,  observmg 
Captain  Pierce  unable  to  stand,  in  consequence  of  the  many 
wounds  he  had  received,  for  nearly  two  hours  bravely  de- 
fended  him  ;  when,  perceiving  his  own  imminent  danger,  and 
that  he  could  afford  the   captain  no  further  assistance,  by 
blacking  his  face  as  the  enemy  had  done,  he  escaped  unnoticed. 
On  the   25th  of  March  a  party  of  Indians  attacked  and 
burned  the  towns  of  Weymouth  and  Warwick,  killing  a  great 
number  of  the  inhabitants.     On  the  10th  of  April  foUowmg 
they  pillaged  and  burned  Rehoboth  and  Providence. 

On  the  1st  of  May  a  company  of  English  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Mohegans,  under  command  of  Captain  George  Den- 
nison,  were  sent  in  pursuit  of  a  body  of  the  enemy  com- 
manded by  the  son  of  Miantinomi.  On  the  8th  they  met  with 
and  attacked  them  near  Groton.  The  Indians,  apparently 
determined  on  victory  or  death,  displayed  an  unusual  degree 
of  courage ;  but  the  English  and  Mohegans  proved  too  strong 
for  them,  who,  after  destroying  the  greater  part  with  their 
muskets  and  tomahawks,  drove  the  remainder  into  a  neigh- 
boring river,  where  thev  soon  perished. 

On°the  23d  Cononchet,  sachem  of  the  few  scattered  re- 
mains of  the  Narragansets,  proposed  to  his  council  that  the 
lands  bordering  on  Connecticut  River  not  inhabited  by  the 
English  should  be  by  them  planted  with  corn  for  their  future 
subsistence;  which  being  approved  of  by  the  latter,  two  hun- 
dred of  the  Narragansets  were  despatched  for  this  purpose  : 
the  governor,  being  apprised  of  their  intentions,  despatched 
three  companies  of  cavalry  to  intercept  them.  About  one 
hundred  of  the  Mohegans,  under  the  command  of  Oneco,  ac- 
companied the  English.  The  enemy  were  commanded  by 
Cononchet  in  person,  who  first  proceeded  to  Seconk  to  j^ro- 
cure  seed  corn :  it  was  in  the  neisl^borhood  of  this  place  that 


COMMENCKMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH    NATIVES.       55 


he  Suc- 
re were 
•ith  the 
iserving 
3  many 
k^ely  de- 
;er,  and 
nee,  by 
noticed, 
ied  and 
a  great 
oUowing 

hundred 
ge  Den- 
ay  com- 
met  with 
parently 
I  degree 
)0  strong 
ith  their 
a  neigh- 

Lered  re- 
that  the 
i  by  the 
;ir  future 
two  hun- 
purpose  : 
ispatched 
bout  one 
)neco,  ac- 
anded  by 
k  to  ]n'0- 
nlace  that 


they  were  first  met  with  and  engaged  by  the  English  and 
Mohegana.  The  enemy,  with  becoming  bravery,  for  a  long 
time  withstood  the  attack  ;  but,  being  but  poorly  provided  with 
weapons,  they  were  at  length  overpowered  and  compelled  to 
yield  to  the  superior  power  of  their  enemies.  In  the  midst 
of  the  action  Cononchet,  fearful  of  the  issue,  deserted  his  men 
and  attempted  to  seek  shelter  in  a  neighboring  wood ;  but,  be- 
ing recognized  by  the  Mohegans,  they  pursued  him.  Conon- 
chet, perceiving  himself  nearly  overtaken  by  his  pursuers,  to 
facilitate  his  flight  first  threw  away  his  blanket,  and  then  his 
silver-laced  coat,  with  which  he  had  been  presented  by  the 
English  a  few  weeks  previous ;  but,  finding  that  he  could  not 
escape  from  his  pursuers  by  flight,  he  plunged  into  a  river, 
where  he  was  even  followed  by  half  a  dozen  resolute  Mohe- 
gans, who,  laying  hold  of  him,  forced  him  under  water  and 
there  held  him  until  he  was  drowned.  The  loss  of  the  Ens:- 
lish  and  Mohegans  in  this  engagement  was  twelve  killed  and 
twenty -one  wounded ;  that  of  the  enemy  was  forty-three  killed 
and  about  eighty  wounded. 

The  inhabitants  of  New  London,  Norwich,  and  Stonington, 
having  frequently  discovered  a  number  of  the  enemy  lurking 
about  in  small  bodies  in  the  adjacent  woods,  by  joint  agree- 
ment voluntarily  enlisted  themselves,  to  the  number  of  three 
hundred,  under  the  command  of  Major  Palmer  and  Captains 
Dennison  and  Avery,  who,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Mohe- 
gans and  a  few  friendly  Narragansets,  in  three  expeditions 
destroyed  near  one  thousand  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  8th  of  June  the  Indians  assaulted  and  burned 
Bridgewater,  a  small  settlement  in  the  colony  of  Massachu- 
setts :  forty  of  its  inhabitants  fell  victims  to  savage  barbarity. 

The  governor  and  council  of  Massachusetts  colony,  aware 
of  the  danger  to  which  many  of  the  inland  settlements  were 
exposed  by  frequent  incursions  of  the  enemy,  and  finding  it 
extremely  difllicult  to  raise  a  sufficient  force  to  oppose  them 
in  the  manv  parts  to  which  the  fra'i'mentH  of  the  broken  tribes 


56 


INDIAN  NARRATIVES. 


ii 


had  resorted,  adopted  the  policy  of  sending  among  them,  as 
spies,  such  Indians  as  were  friendly  and  could  be  depended  on ; 
which  plan  had  its  desired  effect.  These  Indians,  represent- 
ing the  force  of  the  English  much  greater  than  it  really  was, 
and  warning  the  enemy  of  danger  which  did  not  at  that  time 
exist,  deterred  them  from  acting  in  many  inst  nces  on  the 
offensive.  One  of  the  friendly  Indians,  returning  to  Boston 
on  the  10th  of  July,  reported  as  follows :  "  That  a  large  num- 
ber of  Indians  were  imbodied  in  a  wood  near  Lancaster, 
which  village  they  intended  to  attack  and  burn  in  a  few  days  ; 
that  they  had  been  encouraged  to  continue  the  war  with  the 
English  by  Frenchmen  from  the  great  lake,  who  had  supplied 
them  with  firearms  and  ammunition." 

On  the  receipt  of  this  important  information  the  governor 
despatched  three  companies  of  cavalry,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Savage,  for  the  defence  of  Lancaster,  who  unfor- 
tunately, by  mistaking  the  road,  fell  into  an  ambush  of  about 
three  hundred  and  fifty  Indians,  by  whom  they  were  instantly 
surrounded.  The  English  exhibited  great  presence  of  mind, 
and  repelled  the  attack  of  the  enemy  in  a  very  heroic  man- 
ner. The  savages  being,  however,  well  provided  with  fire- 
arms, soon  gained  a  complete  victory  over  the  English,  whose 
loss  in  this  unfortunate  engagement  was  fifty-four.  The  num- 
ber of  killed  and  wounded  of  the  enemy  could  not  be  ascer- 
tained, as  they  remained  masters  of  the  field  of  action. 

On  the  15th  a  severe  engagement  took  place  between  a 
company  of  English  cavalry  and  about  three  hundred  of  the 
enemy  near  Groton.  The  latter  were  not  perceived  by  the 
former  until  they  were  within  a  few  paces  of  them,  the  In- 
dians having  concealed  themselves  in  the  bushes  ;  when,  sud- 
denly issuing  forth  with  a  hideous  yell,  the  cavalry  were 
thrown  into  confusion  ;  but  instantly  forming  and  charging  the 
enemy  with  great  spirit,  they  fled  in  every  direction.  The 
cavalry,  in  attempting  to  pursue  them,  were  once  more  am- 
bushed. The  contest  now  became  clooe  and  severe :  the  Indians, 


i  ! 


COMMENCEMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH    NATIVES.       57 


iJa^ 


having  sucoee«.led  in  decoying  the  English  into  a  thick  wood, 
attacked  them  with  great  fury  and  succerfs.  The  commander 
of  the  English  being  killed,  every  man  sought  his  own  safety. 
Of  forty-five  of  which  the  company  was  composed,  but  twelve 
escaped.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was,  however,  supposed  to 
be  much  greater. 

On  the  r2th  of  August  a  party  of  Indians  entered  the  town 
of  Vestfield,  killed  and  took  several  of  the  inhabitants  pris- 
oners, and  burned  several  houses.  Three  of  them  soon  al'ter 
made  their  appearance  at  a  house  near  said  town  and  fired  at 
a  man  at  his  door,  who  fell.  They  ran  towards  him,  and  one 
of  them  stooping  to  scalp  him,  he  was  saluted  by  the  man's 
wife  with  a  stroke  from  a  large  hatchet,  which  went  so  com- 
pletely into  his  body  that  at  three  different  efforts  she  could 
not  disengage  it ;  and  the  Indian  made  off  with  it  sticking  in 
him.  A  second  Indian  also  made  an  attempt ;  when  she,  by  a 
well-directed  stroke  with  a  stick  she  had  got,  laid  '  ^u  the 
ground.  The  third  then  run  ;  and  the  other,  as  soon  as  he 
had  recovered  his  feet,  followed  the  example  ;  on  which  the 
woman  took  her  husband  in  her  arms  and  carried  him  into 
the  house,  where  he  soon  after  recovered. 

On  the  17th  a  party  of  Indians  commenced  an  attack  on 
Northampton ;  but  there  being  a  number  of  English  soldiers 
therein  stationed,  the  enemy  were  repulsed. 

On  the  20th  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Springfield 
were  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians  as  they  were  returning 
from  divine  service  ;  and  although  the  former  were  provided 
with  firearms,  the  enemy  succeeded  in  making  prisoners  of 
two  women  and  several  children,  whom  they  soon  after  inhu- 
manly tomahawked  and  scalped  ;  in  which  situation  they  were 
the  succeeding  day  found  by  a  party  of  English  sent  out  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy.  One  of  the  unfortunate  women,  al- 
though shockingly  mangled,  was  found  still  alive,  and,  when 
so  far  recovered  as  to  be  enabled  to  speak,  gave  the  followin«y 
account  of  the  fate  of  her  unfortunate  companions,  to  wit : 


58 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


"  That  they  were  lirst  conveyed  by  the  savages  to  a  thick 
wood,  where  they  were  severally  bound  with  cords  ;  that  the 
Indians  soon  after  built  a  lire  and  regaled  themselves  with 
what  they  had  previously  stolen  from  the  English  ;  that  soon 
after  a  warm  dispute  arose  between  them  relative  to  the  pris- 
oners, each  claiming  the  women  for  their  squaws,  (or  wives;) 
that  they  at  length  proceeded  to  blows  ;  and,  after  beating 
each  other  for  some  time  with  clubs,  it  was  agreed  by  both 
parties,  to  prevent  further  altercation,  that  the  women  should 
be  put  to  death  ;  which  they,  as  they  supposed,  carried  imme- 
diately into  execution.  The  unfortunate  narrator  received  a 
severe  blow  on  the  head,  which  brought  her  senseless  to  the 
ground,  and,  while  in  this  situation,  was  scalped  and  left  for 
dead  by  her  savage  enemies." 

The  inhabitants  of  Sudbury,  with  a  company  of  soldiers 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Jacobs,  of  Marlborough, 
alarmed  at  the  near  approach  of  the  enemy,  who  to  the  num- 
ber of  about  two  hundred  were  encamped  near  that  place, 
resolved  to  attack  them  at  night.  Accordingly,  on  the  6th  of 
September  they  marched  within  view  of  them,  and  at  night, 
as  they  lay  extended  around  a  large  fire,  approached  them, 
unperceived.  within  gunshot,  when  they  gave  them  the  con- 
tents of  their  muskets.  Many  of  those  that  remained  un- 
hurt, being  suddenly  aroused  from  their  slumber  by  the  yells 
of  their  wounded  brethren,  and  imagining  that  they  were 
completely  surrounded  by  the  English,  whom  the  darkness  of 
the  night  prevented  their  seeing,  threw  themselves  into  the 
fire  which  they  had  enkindled,  and  there  perished.  But  few 
if  any  escaped.     In  this  attack  the  English  sustained  no  loss. 

On  the  25th  a  considerable  body  of  the  enemy  attacked  the 
inhabitants  of  Marlborough,  many  of  whom  they  killed,  and 
set  fire  to  their  houses.  A  company  of  English,  Who  had  been 
ordered  from  Concord  for  the  defence  of  this  place,  were  cut 
off  by  the  savages  and  totally  destroyed.  Two  other  com- 
panies, despatched  from  Bostxin  for  the  like  purpose,  met  with 


m 


COMMENCEMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITU   NATIVES.       59 


I 


the  same  fate.     It  appeared  that  the  governor,  on  learning 
the  situation  of  the  unfortunate  inhabitants  of  Marlborough, 
despatched  to  their  relief  two  companies,  under  the  command 
of  Captains  Wadsvvorth  and  Smith,  who,  before  they  arrived 
at  their  place  of  destination,  were  informed  tljat  the  savages 
had  quitted  Marlborough  and  proceeded  for  Sudbury,  twelve 
miles  distant ;  which  induced  the  EngHsh  to  alter  their  course 
and  proceed  immediately  for  the  latter  place.     Of  this  it  ap- 
peared that  the  enemy  had  been  apprised  by  their  runners, 
and  had  lain  a  plan  to  cut  them  off  ere  they  should  reach 
Sudbury ;   which  they  in  the  following  manner  completely 
effected.     Learning  the  course  which  the  English  would  take, 
they  within  a  few  rods  thereof  stationed  fifty  or  sixty  of  their 
number  in  an  open  field,  who  were  ordered  to  retreat  into  a 
neighboring  thicket  as  soon  as  discovered  and  pursued  by  the 
English.     In  this  thicket  the  remainder  of  the  Indians,  to  the 
number  of  about  three  hundred,  concealed  themselves  by 
lying  prostrate  on  their  bellies.     The  EngHsh,  on  their  arri- 
val, espying  the  Indians  in  the  field,  and  presuming  them  to 
be  but  few  in  number,  pursued  and  attacked  them,  who  very 
soon  retreated  to  the  fatal  spot  where  their  treacherous  breth- 
ren lay  concealed,  and  prepared  to  give  their  pursuers  a  warm 
if  not  a  fatal  reception  :  here  they  were  closely  pursued  by 
the  English,  who  too  late  discovered  the  fatal  snare  which 
had  been  laid  for  them.     In  an  instant  they  were  completely 
surrounded  and  attacked  on  all  sides  by  the  savages.     The 
English  for  several  hours  bravely  defended  themselves,  but 
at  length  were  borne  down  by  numbers  far  superior  to  their 
own.     Thus  fell  the  brave  Captain  Wadsworth  and  Captain 
Smith,  as  well  as  most  of  the  troops  under  their  command. 

The  Indians  bordering  on  the  River  Merrimack,  feeling 
themselves  injured  by  the  encroachments  of  the  English,  once 
more  reassumed  the  bloody  tomahawk,  which  had  been  buried 
for  a  number  of  years.  On  the  1st  of  November  they  in  a 
c^jnsiderable  body  entered  the  villages  of  Chelmsford  and 


s.>- 


60 


INDIAN    NARKAT1VE8. 


hi 


Wobnni,  and  indiscriminately  put  to  death  every  inhabitant 
tlK'y  contained,  not  sparing  the  infant  at  the  breast.     On  the 
9th  they  burned  the   house  of  a  Mr.  Earnes,  near   Concord, 
killed  his  wife  and  threw  her  body  into  the  flames,  and  made 
captives  of  his  children.     On  the  15th  they  took  prisoner  a 
young  woman,  sixteen  years  of  age,  who,  by  the  family  with 
whom  she  resided,  had  been  placed  on  a  hill  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  their  dwelling  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy. 
The  account  which  the  young  woman  gave  of  her  capture  and 
escape  was  as  follows :  "  That  on  the  morning  of  her  capture, 
the  family  having  been  mformed  that  a  party  of  Indians  had 
tlie  day  previous  been  discovered  in  a  neighboring  wood,  she, 
by  their  request,  ascended  a  hill  near  the  house  to  watch  their 
motions,  and  alarm  the  family  if  seen  approaching  the  house ; 
that  about  noon  she  discovered  a  number  of  them  ascending 
the  hill  in  great  haste  ;  that  she  immediately  thereupon  at- 
tempted to  evade  them  by  retiring  into  a  thicket ;  but  that  the 
Indians,  who  it  appeared  had  before  observed  her,  found  her 
after  a  few  moments'  search,  and  compelled  her  to  accompany 
them  to  their  settlement,  about  forty  miles  distant.     It  was 
here  they  gave  her  to  understand  she  must  remain  and  be- 
come their  scpiaw,  and  dress  and  cook  their  victuals ;  that  she 
remained  with  them  about  three  weeks,  during  which  time 
they  made  several  expeditions  against  the  English,  and  re- 
turned with  a  great  number  of  human  scalps ;  that  on  the 
night  of  the  Cth  of  December  they  returned  with  six  horses 
which  they  had  stolen  from  the  English,  which  having  turned 
into  a  small  enclosure,  they  set  out  on  a  new  expedition  ;  that 
she  viewed  this  as  a  favorable  opportunity  to  escape,  to  etiect 
whicii  she  caught  and  mounted  one  of  the  horses,  and,  making 
use  of  a  strip  of  bark  as  a  bridle,  penetrated  a  wild  and 
pathless  wood,  and  arrived  at  Concord  at  seven  o'clock  tlie 
morning  succeeding,  having  travelled  all  the  preceding  night 
to  evade  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy."     In  like  manner  did  one 
of  the  chihlren  of  Mr.  Eames,  of  whose  capture  mention  is 


COMMENCLMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES.       61 


ZM. 


made  in  the  preceding  page,  escape  from  the  Indians.  Al- 
though but  ten  years  of  age,  he  travelled  sixty  miles  through 
an  uninhabited  wood,  subsisting  on  acorns. 

On  the  12th  of  December  a  party  of  Indians  attacked  and 
killed  several  of  the  inhabitants  of  liradford.  Tlie  governor 
of  Massachusetts  colony,  for  the  protection  of  the  defenceless 
inhabitants  of  the  Merrimack,  ordered  the  raising  and  equip- 
ping of  four  companies  of  cavalry ;  to  the  command  of  which 
were  appointed  Captains  Sill,  Holyoke,  Cutler,  and  Prentice. 

On  the  23d  the  above  troops  proceeded  for  the  borders  of 
the  Merrimack,  and  on  the  26th  fell  in  with  a  considerable 
body  of  the  enemy,  whom  they  engaged  and  completely  de- 
feated. On  the  4th  of  January,  1G79,  Captain  Prentice, 
detached  from  the  main  body,  fell  in  with  and  engaged  about 
one  hundred  of  the  enemy  in  the  neighborhood  of  Amherst, 
whom  he  likewise  defeated,  but  with  considerable  loss  on  his 
part. 

On  the  6th  a  son  of  the  brave  Captain  Holyoke,  of  Spring- 
field, receiving  information  that  a  number  of  the  enemy  in 
small  bodies  were  skulking  about  in  the  woods  bordering  on 
that  town,  with  twenty  resolute  young  men  marched  out  to 
attack  them.  Falling  in  with  a  considerable  body  of  them, 
an  engagement  ensued,  which,  though  severe,  terminated  at 
length  in  favor  of  the  English.  The  Indians,  being  furnished 
with  muskets,  ,vere  unwilling  to  give  ground,  and  would 
probably  have  remained  masters  of  the  field  had  not  the 
English  received  a  r^enforcement  which  put  them  to  flight. 
The  loss  of  the  Eng.ish  in  the  engagement  was  five  killed 
and  nine  wounded,  and  that  of  the  enemy  twenty-three  killed, 
and  between  thirty  and  forty  wounded. 

The  savages  were  no  longer  confined  to  any  particular  tribe 
or  place,  but,  in  parties  from  fifty  to  three  hundred,  were 
scattered  all  over  the  thinly-inhabited  parts  of  New  England  : 
a  considerable  body  of  them  were  yet  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Hadley,  Decrfidd,  and  Northampton,  where  they  were  con- 
6 


1 


6a 


INDIAN    NAKUATIVKS. 


tlnuully  cominiltiiif;  tlicir  wiinfon  jurtH  of  Imrbiirity.  Several 
of  the  inlmbitunts  of  llie  towns  uhove  mentioned,  duly  reH(!et- 
l;ij5  on  the  danfjjer  to  wliieli  they  and  their  fantihcs  were  <hiily 
exposed,  formed  themselves  into  severHl  eompuniea,  and  made 
choice  of  their  eommandcrd.  On  the  4th  of  February,  re- 
ceivinj?  information  that  there  were  near  two  hundred  Indianfl 
imbodied  in  a  Hwamp  in  the  neighborhood  of  Deerfield,  the 
abovc-nuMitioned  force  marched  to  nttaek  them.  Arrivinj^ 
within  view  of  tliem  about  daybreak,  they  discovered  them 
in  a  profound  sleep,  stretched  out  upon  the  ground  around 
their  tire.  The  cavalry  immediately  thereupon  alighted,  and, 
after  forming  themselves,  approached  them  within  pistol  shot 
before  they  were  discovered  by  t)'e  enemy,  who,  being  sud- 
denly aix)used  from  their  slumber,  and  astonished  at  the  un- 
expected n[)pearance  of  so  many  of  their  enemies,  fell  an 
easy  prey  to  the  English,  who,  without  the  loss  of  a  man, 
killed  one  hundred  and  twenty  of  them ;  the  remainder,  as 
the  only  means  of  escape,  having  plunged  into  a  river,  where 
probably  many  of  them  perished. 

Although  the  English  achieved  this  action  without  any  loss 
on  their  part,  they  were  on  their  return  unhappily  ambushed 
by  about  four  hundred  of  the  enemy.  The  English,  having 
expended  all  their  ammunition  in  the  late  engagement,  and 
being  much  fatigued,  were  now  in  turn  likely  to  fall  an  easy 
prey  to  their  enemies,  who  with  their  bloody  knives  and  tom- 
ahawks, for  the  space  of  an  hour,  attacked  them  with  the 
greatest  success.  '  Not  one  of  the  P^nglish,  it  is  probable,  would 
have  survived  this  bloody  and  unexpected  attack,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  presence  of  mind  of  their  brave  commander, 
Captain  Holyoke,  who,  by  a  stratagem,  succeeded  in  saving  a 
part  of  them.  Captain  Holyoke  had  his  horse  killed  under 
him,  and  at  one  time  Avas  attacked  by  live  qf  the  enemy,  whom 
he  beat  oft'  with  his  cutlass.  The  loss  of  the  English  in  this 
unfortunate  action  was  lifty-one  killed  and  eighty-four  wound- 
ed ;  many  of  the  latter  survived  the  action  but  a  few  days. 


%M 


•  CT^ 


Srvorul 
y  r«'H(Hrt- 
»;ii'  daily 
iiid  inudH 
imry,  rc- 
1  IiuliaiiH 
field,  th<! 
Arriviiijif 
■ed  llum 
1  around 
ited,  and, 
atol  siiut 
:in<;  sud- 

tlie  un- 
,  fell  an 
r  n  man, 
inder,  as 
jr,  whore 

any  loss 
mbushed 
ii,  having 
aen(,  and 
1  an  easy 
and  toni- 
with  the 
lie,  would 
I  ad  it  not 
nmander, 

saving  a 
ed  under 
ly,  whom 
;h  in  this 
r  wound- 
lew  days. 


COMMKNCKMKNT    OF   HOSTILITIEfl    WITir    NATIVK.S.       OS 

The  d(.foat  and  dcslnictio..  of  tlu;  Kn.jlish  in  (his  on^ajrenient 
were  ituich  lo  be  lamented,  aa  anion;^  the  slain  were  the  heads 
of  several  families  who  had  volunteered  their  services  in 
defence  of  their  ipfant  Hetthimi'nts. 

On  the  loth  several  hundreds  of  the  eiK^my,  encouraged  hy 
their  late  success,  appeared  before  Hatfield  and  tired  several 
dwelling  houses  without  the  fortification  of  the  town.  The 
inhabitants  of  Iladley  being  seasonably  apj.rise.l  of  the  situ- 
ation  of  their  brethren  at  Hatfield,  a  number  of  them  volun- 
t<'ered  their  services  a.ul  marched  to  their  reli<!f.  T\w  In- 
dians,  as  they  were  accustonujd  to  do  on  the  approach  of  the 
Knglish,  lay  flat  on  their  bellies  until  the  latter  had  advanced 
within  bowshot,  when,  partly  rising,  they  discharged  a  show- 
er of  arrows  among  them,  which  wounded  several  of  the 
English ;  but  they,  having  wisely  reserved  their  tire,  now  in 
turn  levelled  their  pieces  with  the  best  effect  before  the  sav- 
ages had  time  to  recover  their  legs,  about  thirty  of  whom 
were  instantly  despatched,  and  the  remainder  dispersed. 

On  the  15th  of  February  the  governor  of  Massachusetts 
colony,  receiving  information  that  the  Indians  were  collecting 
in  great  numbers,  under  the  immediate  gui(hince  of  Philip, 
near  Jtrookfield,  despatched  Captain  Henchman,  with  my 
men,  to  dislodge  them,  who,  proceeding  first  to  Hadley,  was 
joined  by  a  company  of  cavalry  from  Hartford.  On  the  20th 
they  discovered  and  attacked  a  party  of  In.lians  near  Lan- 
caster :  they  killed  fifty  of  them,  and  took  between  fifty  and 
sixty  of  their  squaws  and  children  prisoners.  Captain  Hench- 
man, on  his  way  to  Brookfield,  discovered  the  dead  bodies  of 
several  of  his  countrymen  half  consumed  by  fire,  who,  it 
appeared,  had  a  few  days  previous  fallen  victims  to  the  wiin- 
ton  barbarity  of  the  savages. 

The  scattered  remains  of  the  enemy  being  now  so  com- 
pletely  harass.^d  and  driven  from  place  to  place  by  the  Eng- 
hsh,  a  number  of  them  resorted  to  the  western  country,  then 
inhabited  by  the  Mohawks  ;  but  the  latter,  being  od  friendly 


i.i 


f? 


64 


INDIAN    NARnATIVES. 


HI 

I'l   ( 


ternia  with  llic  Kii^Iisli  anil  Dutch,  who  were  settling  among 
them,  were  unwilling  to  harbor  their  enemies,  and  conse- 
quently attacked  a  considerable  body  ol'  them  on  the  t'ith  of 
March.  The  engngement  was  a  severe  one.  The  fugitive 
Indians,  being  furnished  with  firearms,  repelled  the  attack  of 
the  IMohawks  with  a  becoming  spirit,  but  were  at  length  over- 
powered and  completely  defeated  :  the  loss  on  both  sides  was 
very  great. 

On  the  20th  the  Indians  took  a  Mr.  Willet  prisoner  near 
Swanzey,  and,  after  cutting  off  his  nose  and  ears,  set  him  at 
liberty.  On  the  2.'Jd  they  made  prisoners  of  the  family  of  ft 
Mr.  Harney,  of  Kehoboth,  consisting  of  himself,  wife,  and 
six  children  :  two  of  the  youngest  of  the  latter  they  killed 
and  scalped,  and  threw  their  mangled  bodies  to  their  dogs  to 
devour. 

On  the  28th  a  negro  man,  who  had  been  for  several  months 
a  prisoner  among  the  savages,  escaped  from  them  and  re- 
turned to  the  English,  to  whom  he  gave  the  following  infor- 
mation; to  wit,  that  the  enemy  were  concerting  a  plan  to 
attack  Taunton  and  the  villages  adjacent ;  that  for  this  pur- 
pose there  were  then  imbodied  neor  Worcester  one  thousand 
of  them,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  Philip,  and  that  near  one 
hundred  of  them  were  furnished  with  firearms ;  that,  a  few 
days  previous  to  his  escape,  a  scouting  party  arrived  and 
brought  in  with  them  two  prisoners  and  three  human  scalps. 
To  frustrate  the  intentions  of  the  enemy,  the  governor  of 
Massachusetts  colony  despatched  three  companies  of  cavalry 
for  the  defence  of  Taunton. 

The  English  of  Connecticut  colony,  although  but  little 
■  troubled  with  the  enemy  since  the  destruction  of  the  Pequots, 
were  not  unwilling  to  afford  their  brethren  all  the  assistance 
possible  in  a  protracted  and  bloody  war  with  the  common 
enemy.  They  accordingly  furnished  three  companies  of  cav- 
alry, who,  under  command  of  the  experienced  Major  Talcott, 
on  the  5th  of  April,  proceeded  to  the  westward  in  search  of 


COMMENCEMENT    OV   HOSTILITIES    WITH    NATIVES.        65 


the  enemy.  On  the  Uth  they  fell  in  with,  nttncked,  nntl  de- 
feated a  considerRble  body  of  them.  Apparently,  by  the  special 
direction  of  divine  Providence,  Major  Talcott  arrived  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Hadley  in  time  to  preserve  the  town  and 
save  its  inhabitants  from  total  destruction.  The  savages,  to 
the  number  of  five  hundred,  were  on  the  eve  of  commencing 
an  attack  when  they  were  met  by  the  major  with  the  troops 
under  his  command.  This  unexpected  relief  animating  the 
few  inhabitants  which  the  town  contained,  they  hastened  to 
the  assistance  of  the  cavalry,  who,  at  this  moment,  were  seri- 
ously engaged  with  the  whole  body  of  the  enemy.  The  sav- 
ages having  gained  some  signal  advantages,  victory  for  a  con- 
siderable length  of  time  ap[)eared  likely  to  decide  in  their 
favor.  Fortunately,  the  inhabitants  of  Iladley  having  for 
their  defence,  a  few  weeks  previous,  procured  from  Boston  an 
eight  pounder,  it  was  at  this  critical  period  loaded  by  the 
women,  and,  being  mounted,  was  by  them  conveyed  to  the 
English,  which,  being  charged  with  small  shot,  nails,  &c., 
was  by  the  latter  discharged  with  the  best  effect  upon  the 
enemy,  who  immediately  thereupon  fled  in  every  direction. 
Thus  it  was  that  the  English  in  a  great  measure  owed  the 
preservation  of  their  lives  to  the  unexampled  heroism  of  a 
few  women. 

The  governor  and  council  of^  the  United  Colonies,  taking 
under  serious  consideration  the  miraculous  escape  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Iladley  from  total  destruction  and  the  recent 
success  of  the  arms  of  the  English  in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  appointed  the  27th  day  of  August,  1(579,  to  be  ob- 
served throughout  the  colonies  as  a  day  of  public  thanksgiv- 
ing and  praise  to  Almighty  God.  This,  it  may  be  well  to 
observe,  was  the  commencement  of  an  annual  custom  of  our 
forefathers,  which  to  the  present  day  is  so  religiously  observed 
by  their  descendants  throughout  the  New  England  States. 

On  the  3d  of  September  the  Connecticut  troops,  under  com- 
mand of   Major  Talcott  and  Captains  Dennison  and  New- 


66 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


bury,  proceeded  tc  Narraganset  in  quest  of  the  enemy,  who, 
to  the  number  of  about  three  hundred,  had  been  discovered  in 
a  piece  of  woods.  The  English  were  accompanied  by  their 
faithful  friend  Oneco,  with  one  hundred  Mohegans  under  his 
command.  In  the  evening  of  the  5th  they  discovered  the 
enemy  encamped  at  the  foot  of  a  steep  hill ;  on  which  Major 
Talcott  made  arrangements  for  an  attack.  The  Mohegans 
were  ordered  by  a  circuitous  route  to  gain  the  summit  of  the 
hill,  to  prevent  the  flight  of  the  enemy  :  two  companies  of 
cavalry  were  oi'dered  to  flank  them  on  the  right  and  left ; 
while  Major  Talcott,  with  a  company  of  foot,  stationed  him- 
self in  their  rear.  Having  thus  disposed  of  his  forces,  a  sig- 
nal was  given  by  the  major  for  the  Mohegans  to  commence 
the  attack,  which  they  did,  and  with  such  spirit,  accompanied 
by  their  savage  yells,  that,  had  the  enemy  been  renowned  for 
their  valor,  they  must  have  been  to  the  highest  degree  ap- 
palled at  po  unexpected  an  onset.  After  contending  a  few 
moments  with  the  Mohegans,  the  enemy  were  attacked  on  the 
right  and  left  by  the  cavalry,  who,  with  their  cutlasses,  made 
great  havoc  among  them  :  they  were,  however,  unwilling  to 
give  ground  until  they  had  lost  nearly  one  half  their  number, 
when  they  attempted  a  flight  to  a  swamp  in  their  rear  ;  but 
here  they  were  met  by  Major  Talcott,  with  the  company  of 
foot,  who  gave  them  so  warm  a  reception  that  they  once  more 
fell  back  upon  the  Mohegans,  by  whom  they  were  very  soon 
overpowered,  and  would  have  been  totally  destroyed  had  not 
Major  Talcott  hMraanely  interfered  in  tlieir  behalf  and  made 
prisoners  of  the  few  that  remained  alive :  among  the  latter 
was  their  leader,  a  squaw,  commonly  termed  the  Queen  of 
Narraganset ;  and  among  them  an  active  young  fellow,  who 
begged  to  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  Mohegans,  that 
they  might  put  him  to  death  in  their  own  way,  and  sacrifice 
him  to  their  cruel  genius  of  revenge,  in  which  they  so  much 


TT.nrrliolt      QUlmnnrli    nntiirnllv    av«>rsp.    to    «f't8 


of  savage  barbarity,  were  not,  in  this  instance,  unwilling  to 


COMMKXCKMKNT    OF   IIOSTILTTIES    WITH   NATIVES.       67 


comply  with  the  voluntary,  although  unnatural,  request  of  the 
prisoner;  as  it  appeared  that  he  had,  in  presence  of  the  Mo- 
hegans,  exultingly  boasted  of  having  killed  nineteen  of  the 
English  with  his  gun  since  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
and  after  loading  it  for  the  twentieth,  there  being  no  more  of 
the  latter  within  reach,  he  levelled  at  a  Mohegan,  whom  he 
killed  ;  which  completing  his  number,  he  was  willing  to  die 
by  their  hands.  The  Mohegans  accordingly  began  to  prepare 
for  the  tragical  event.  Forming  themselves  into  a  circle, 
admitting  as  many  of  the  English  as  were  disposed  to  witness 
their  savage  proceedings,  the  prisoner  was  placed  in  the  cen- 
tre ;  when  one  of  the  Mohegans,  who,  in  the  late  engagement, 
had  lost  a  son,  with  his  knife  cut  off  the  prisoner's  ears,  then 
his  nose,  and  then  the  fingers  of  each  hand ;  and  after  the 
lapse  of  a  few  moments  dug  out  his  eyes,  and  filled  their 
sockets  with  hot  embers.  Although  the  few  English  present 
were  overcome  with  a  view  of  a  scene  so  shocking  to  human- 
ity, yet  the  prisoner,  so  far  from  bewailing  his  fate,  seemed 
to  surpass  his  tormentors  in  expressions  of  joy.  When  near- 
ly exhausted  with  the  loss  of  blood,  and  unable  longer  to 
stand,  his  executioner  closed  the  tragic  scene  by  beating  out 
his  brains  with  a  tomahawk. 

The  few  Indians  that  now  remained  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Plymouth  colony,  being  in  a  state  of  starvation,  surren- 
dered themselves  prisoners  to  the  P^nglish  ;  one  of  whom, 
being  recognized  as  the  person  who  had  a  few  days  previous 
inhumanly  murdered  the  daughtqr  of  a  Mr.  Clarke,  was,  by 
order  of  the  governor,  publicly  executed  :  the  remainder  were 
retained  and  treated  as  prisoners  of  war.  By  the  assistance 
of  one  of  the  prisoners,  who  served  as  guide,  twenty  more  of 
the  enemy  were,  on  the  following  day,  surprised  and  taken 
prisoners  by  the  English. 

The  troops,  under  the  command  of  Major  Bradford  and 
Captains  Mosely  and  Brattle,  on  the  15th  of  Sentember  sur- 
prised  and  took  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  enemy  prisoners 


68 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


I  IP' 
In 


ill 


near  Pautuxet,  among  whom  was  the  squaw  of  the  celebrated 
Philip ;  and  on  the  day  following,  learning  that  the  enemy 
in  considerable  bodies  were  roving  about  in  the  woods  near 
Dedham,  Major  Bradford  despatched  Captain  Brattle  with 
fifty  men  to  attack  them,  who,  the  day  following,  fell  in  with 
and  engaged  about  one  hundred  of  them.  As  hatchets  were 
the  only  weapons  with  which  they  were  provided,  they  made 
but  a  feeble  defence,  and  were  soon  overpowered  by  the  Eng- 
lish, who  took  seventy-four  of  them  prisoners,  the  remainder 
having  fallen  in  the  action.  The  loss  of  the  English  was 
two  killed  and  five  wounded.  The  above  party  was  com- 
manded by  a  bloodthirsty  sachem  called  Poraham,  renowned 
for  his  bodily  strength,  which  exceeded  that  of  any  of  his 
countrymen  ever  met  with.  He  bravely  defended  himself  to 
the  last :  being  wounded  in  the  breast  and  unable  to  stand, 
he  seized  one  of  the  soldiers  while  in  the  act  of  despatching 
him  with  the  but  of  his  gun,  and  by  whom  he  would  have 
been  strangled  had  he  not  been  fortunately  rescued  by  one 
of  his  comrades. 

A  general  famine  now  prevailing  among  the  enemy,  in  con- 
sequence of  being  deprived  of  an  opportunity  to  plant  their 
lands,  numbers  were  daily  compelled  by  hunger  to  surrender 
themselves  prisoners  to  the  English,  among  whom  was  a  Nip- 
net  sachem,  accompanied  by  one  hundred  and  eighty  of  his 
tribe. 

On  the  12th  of  October  Captain  Church,  with  fifty  soldiers 
and  a  few  friendly  Indians  under  his  command,  attacked  and 
defeated  a  party  of  the  enemy  near  Providence  ;  and  on  the 
day  following,  conducted  by  Indian  guides,  discovered  a  con- 
siderable body  of  the  enemy  encamped  in  a  swamp  near  Pom- 
fret  :  a  friendly  Indian  first  espying  them,  commanded  them 
to  surrender  ;  but  the  enemy  did  not  appear  disposed  to  obey. 
Being  sheltered  by  large  trees,  they  first  discharged  their 
arrows  among  the  English,  and  then,  with  a  terrible  yell,  at- 
tacked tlieiQ  with  their  long  knives  and  tomahawks.     The 


COMMENCEMENT    OP   HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES.        69 


English,  meeting  with  a  much  warmer  reception  than  what 
they  expected,  gave  ground  ;  but  being  rallied  by  their  old  and 
experienced  commander.  Captain  Church,  they  rushed  upon 
them  with  such  impetuosity  that  the  enemy  were  thrown  into 
confusion  and  dislodged  from  their  coverts.  The  action  con- 
tinued about  an  hour  and  a  quarter.  The  English  had  seven 
men  killed  and  fourteen  wounded;  among  the  latter  their 
brave  commander,  who  received  an  arrow  through  his  left 
arm.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  thirty-two  killed  and  be- 
tween sixty  and  seventy  wounded. 

On  the  20th  information  was  forwarded  the  governor  and 
council  that  the  famous  Philip,  who  had  been  for  a  long  time 
skulking  about  in  the  woods  near  Mount  Hope,  much  disheart- 
ened by  the  ill  success  of  his  counfymen,  was,  the  morning 
preceding,  discovered  in  a  swamp  near  that  place,  attended  by 
about  ninety  Seaconet  Indians  ;  on  which  the  brave  Captain 
Church,  with  his  little  band  of  invincibles,  was  immediately 
despatched  in  pursuit  of  him.     Captain  Church  was  accom- 
panied, as  usual,  by  a  number  of  the  Mohegans  and  a  few 
friendly  Seaconet  Indians.     On  the  27th  they  arrived  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  swamp,  near  the  border  of  which  he 
stationed  several  of  the  Mohegans  to  intercept  Philip  in  case 
he  should  attempt  an  escape  therefrom.     Captain  Church,  at 
the  head  of  his  little  band,  now  with  unconquerable  resolu- 
tion plunged  into  the  swamp,  and,  wading  nearly  to  his  waist 
in  water,  discovered  and  attacked  the  enemy.     The  Indians 
Mere  nearly  one  hundred  strong;  but  being  unexpectedly  at- 
tacked they  made  no  resistance,  but  fled  in  every  direction ; 
the  inaccessible  state  of  the  swamp,  however,  prevented  the 
English  from  pursuing  them  with  success.     Their  dependence 
was  now  upon  their   friends   stationed  without;    nor  did  it 
appear  that  those  faithful  fellows  suffered  so  good  an  oppor- 
tunity to  pass  unimproved.      The  re[)ort  of  their  muskets 
convinced  Captain  Church  that  they  were  doing  their  duty  ; 
in  confirmation  of  which,  he  was  very  soon  after  presented 
with  the  head  of  King  Philip. 


i  . 


i 


r 

V 

I. 


il3 


70 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


Philip,  it  appeared,  in  attempting  to  fly  from  his  pursuers, 
was  recognized  by  one  of  the  English  who  had  been  stationed 
with  the  Mohegans  to  intercept  him,  and  at  whom  he  levelled 
his  piece ;  but  the  priming  being  unfortunately  wet  and  pre- 
venting the  discharge  thereof,  the  cunning  sachem  would  yet 
have  escaped  had  not  one  of  the  brave  sons  of  Uncus  at  this 
instant  given  him  the  contents  of  his  musTset.  The  ball  went 
directly  thro"gh  his  heart;  and  thus  fell,  by  the  hands  of  a 
faithful  Mohegan,  the  famous  Philip,  who  was  the  projector 
and  instigator  of  a  war  which  not  only  proved  the  cause  of 
his  own  destruction,  but  that  of  nearly  all  his  triue,  once  the 
most  numerous  of  any  inhabiting  New  England. 

It  was  at  this  important  instant  that  the  English  were  made 
witnesses  of  a  remarkable  instance  of  savage  custom.  Oneco, 
on  learning  that  Philip  had  fallen  by  the  hand  of  one  of  his 
tribe,  urged  that,  agreeable  to  their  custom,  he  had  an  un- 
doubted right  to  the  body,  and  a  right  to  feast  himself  with  a 
piece  thereof;  which  the  English  not  objecting  to,  he  delib- 
erately drew  his  long  knife  from  his  girdle,  and  with  it  de- 
tached a  piece  of  fit  ih  from  the  bleeding  body  of  Philip  of 
about  one  pound  weight,  which  he  broiled  and  ate,  in  the 
mean  time  declaring  that  "  he  had  not  for  many  moons  eaten 
any  thing  with  so  good  an  appetite ! "  The  head  of  Philip 
was  detached  from  his  body  and  sent  by  Captain  Church  to 
Boston,  to  be  presented  to  the  governor  and  council  as  a  val- 
uable trophy. 

The  few  hostile  Indians  that  now  remained  within  the 
United  Colonies,  conscious  that,  if  so  fortunate  as  to  evade  the 
vigilance  of  the  English,  they  must  soon  fall  victims  to  the 
prevailing  famine,  fled  with  '■  eir  families  far  to  the  westward. 
The  English  were  disposed  rather  to  facilitate  than  prevent 
their  flight.  Having  been  for  a  number  of  years  engaged  in  a 
destructive  and  bloody  war  with  them,  they  were  willing  that 
the  few  that  remained  alive  should  escape  to  a  country  so  far 
distant  that  there  was  no  probability  of  their  returning  to 


COMMENCEMENT    OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES.        71 


pursuers, 
stationed 
5  levelled 
and  pre- 
rould  yet 

15  at  this 
ball  went 
nds  of  a 
projector 
cause  of 
once  the 

ere  made 
Oneco, 

16  of  his 
1  an  un- 
If  with  a 
he  delib- 
th  it  de- 
Philip  of 
te,  in  the 
)ns  eaten 
of  Philip 
;!hurch  to 
as  a  val- 

ithin  the 
wade  the 
as  to  the 
vestward. 
1  prevent 
aged  in  a 
ling  that 
ry  so  far 
iming  to 


resume  the  bloody  tomahawk.  Impressed  with  this  idea,  and 
that  the  enemy  were  completely  exterminated,  they  wei-e 
about  to  bury  the  hatchet  and  turn  their  attention  to  agi-iciil- 
tural  pursuits,  when,  by  an  express,  they  were  informed  that 
the  natives  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  country.  Province  of 
Maine,  had  unprovokedly  attacked  and  killed  a  considerable 
number  of  the  English  in  that  quarter. 

To  quench  the  flame  which  appeared  to  be  enkindling  in 
the  east,  the  governor  despatched  four  companies  of  cavalry 
to  the  relief  of  the  unfortunate  inhabitants.  The  enemy,  who 
were  of  the  Kennebeck  and  Amoscoggin  tribes,  first  attacked 
with  unprecedented  fury  the  defenceless  inhabitants  settled 
on  Kennebeck  River,  the  most  of  whom  were  destroyed  or 
dispersed  by  them. 

On  the  2d  of  November  about  seven  hundred  of  the  en- 
emy attacked  with  their  accustomed  fury,  accompanied  by 
their  savage  yells,  the  inhabitants  of  Newchewannick,  an 
English  settlement,  situated  a  few  miles  from  the  mouth  of 
the  River  Kennebeck.  Before  they  had  fully  accomplishrt 
their  hellish  purpose  they  were  surprised  by  the  troops  sent 
from  Boston,  between  whom  a  most  bloody  engagement  now 
ensued.  The  Indians,  encouraged  by  their  numbers,  repelled 
the  attack  of  the  English  in  so  heioic  a  manner  that  the  lat- 
ter were  very  soon  thrown  into  disorder  and  driven  out  of 
town,  where  they  again  formed,  faced  about,  and  in  turn 
charged  the  enemy  with  unconquerable  resolution.  The  con- 
test now  became  close  and  severe :  the  savages,  with  their 
terrific  yells,  dexterously  hurled  their  tomahawks  among  the 
English ;  while  the  latter,  with  as  much  dexterity,  attacked  and 
mowed  them  down  with  their  cutlasses.  Each  were  appar- 
ently determined  on  victory  or  death.  The  English  at  one 
moment,  unable  to  withstjuid  the  impetuosity  of  the  savages, 
would  give  ground ;  at  the  next,  the  latter,  hard  pushed"  by 
the  cavalry,  would  fall  back.  Thus  for  the  space  of  two  hours 
did  victory  appear  balancing  between  the  two  contending 


72 


INDIAN    NAUUATIVKS. 


■ 


parties.     The  field  of  action  was  covered  witli  the  shiin,  while 
the  adjacent  woods  resounded  with  the  shrieks  and  groans  of 
the  wounded.     At  this  critical  juncture  the  English,  when  on 
the  very  point  of  surrendering,  were  providentially  preserved 
by  a  stratagem.     In  the  heat  of  the  action  Major  Bradford 
despatched  a  company  of  cavalry  by  a  circuitous  route  to 
attack  the  enemy  in  the  rear,  which  had  the  most  happy 
etfect.     The  enemy,  suspecting  this  company  a  reenforcement 
of  the  English,  fled  in  every  direction,  leaving  the  English 
masters  of  the  field.     Thus,  after  two  hours'  hard  fighting,  did 
the  English  obtain  a  victory  at  the  expense  of  the  lives  of 
more  than  half  their  number.     Their  killed  and  wounded 
amounted  to  ninety-nine.     The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  not 
ascertained;   it  was,  however,  {j-'bably  three  times  greater 
than  that  of  the  English. 

The  day  succeeding  this  bloody  engagement  a  lieutenant 
witb  twelve  men  was  sent  by  the  commander  to  the  place  of 
action  to  bury  their  dead ;  when  they  were  a  few  rods  there- 
from unexpectedly  attacked  by  about  one  hundred  of  the  en- 
emy who  had  lain  in  ambush.  The  lieutenant  ordered  hia 
men  to  reserve  their  fire  until  they  could  discharge  with  the 
best  effect  upon  the  enemy,  by  whom  they  were  soon  sur- 
rounded and  furiously  attacked  on  all  sides.  The  savages, 
yelling  horribly,  brandished  their  long  knives  in  the  air,  yet 
crimsoned  with  the  blood  of  their  countrymen.  The  brave 
little  band,  however,  remained  firm  and  undaunted ;  and  as 
the  savages  approached  them,  each  taking  pipper  aim,  dis- 
charged with  so  good  effect  upon  them  that  the  Indians, 
amazed  at  the  instantaneous  destruction  of  so  many  of  their 
comrades,  fled  in  every  direction.  The  English  sustained  no 
loss. 

On  the  5th  the  enemy  successfully  attacked  the  inhabitants 
of  the  village  of  Casco,  thirty  of  whom  they  killed,  and  made 
prisoners  of  the  family  of  a  Mr.  Bracket,  who  on  the  7th,  in 
the  following  manner,  made  their  escape.    The  Indians,  on 


COMMENCEMENT   OF   n08TILlTlE8    WITH   NATIVES.       78 


their  return  to  tlieir  wigwams,  learning  that  a  detaeheil  party 
of  their  brethren  had  attacked  with  success  and  phindered 
the  viUage  of  Arowsicik,  to  enjoy  a  share  of  the  spoil  hastened 
to  join  them,  leaving  the  prisoners  in  the  care  of  two  old  men 
and  three  squaws.  :Mr.  Bracket,  whose  family  consisted  of 
himself,  wife,  three  small  childi-en,  and  a  negro  lad,  viewed 
this  as  a  favorable  opi)ortunity  to  esca{)e ;  to  effect  which,  he 
requested  the  lad  to  attempt  an  escape  by  flight,  which,  being 
uncommonly  active,  he  easily  effected.  The  plan  of  Mr. 
Bracket  had  now  its  desired  effect ;  as  the  old  men,  pursuing 
the  negro,  left  him  and  his  family  guarded  only  by  the  three 
squaws,  whom,  being  intoxicated,  he  soon  des-..lv.h..d,  and  re- 
turned the  day  succeeding  with  his  family  to  Casco,  where 
the  negro  lad  had  arrived  some  hours  before. 

On  the  15th  the  Indians  attacked  the  dwelling  house  of  a 
Captain  Bonithon  and  Major  Philips,  situated  on  the  east  side 
of  Casco  River.  They  having  seasonable  notice  of  the  hos- 
tile views  of  the  enemy,  the  family  of  .he  former,  as  a  place 
cf  greater  safety,  had  resorted  to  the  house  of  the  latter  a 
few  moments  previous  to  the  attack.  The  savages  first,  com- 
municating fire  to  the  house  of  Captain  Bonithon,  next  pro- 
ceeded furiously  to  attack  the  dwelling  of  Major  Philips,  in 
which  there  were  about  twenty  persons,  by  whom  it  was  most 
gallantly  defended.  The  enemy  had  their  leader  and  a  num- 
ber of  tlieir  party  killed  by  the  fire  of  the  English.  Despair- 
ing of  taking  the  house  by  assault,  they  cviopted  a  new  plan 
to  communicate  fire  thereto.  They  procured  a  carriage,  on 
which  they  erected  a  stage,  in  front  of  which  was  a  barricade 
rendered  bullet  proof,  and  to  which  long  poles  were  at- 
tached nearly  twenty  feet  in  length,  to  the  ends  of  which 
were  affixed  every  kind  of  combustible,  such  as  birch  rinds, 
straw,  pitch,  pine,  &c.  The  Indians  were  sheltered  by  the 
barricade  from  the  fire  of  the  English  while  they  approached 
the  walls  of  the  house  with  their  carriage.  The  English  were 
now  on  the  eve  of  despairing,  when  fortunately  one  of  the 


h 


t 

-i 

V 

s. 
I. 


L 


it, 


74 


iNDIAN    NAUUATIVKS. 


wheels  of  the  carriage,  being  brought  in  contact  with  a  rock, 
was  turned  comj)letely  round,  which  exposed  the  whole  body 
of  Indians  to  their  fire.  This  unexpected  opportunity  was 
improved  with  the  greatest  advantage  by  the  English,  who 
with  a  few  rounds  soon  dispersed  the  enemy  with  no  incon- 
siderable loss. 

The  day  following  the  Indians  attacked  and  set  fire  to  the 
house  of  a  Mr.  Wakely,  whom  with  his  whole  family  they 
murdered.  A  company  of  English,  apprised  of  their  dan- 
gerous situation,  marched  to  their  relief,  but  arrived  too  late 
to  aiford  them  assistance.  They  found  the  house  reduced  to 
ashes,  among  which  they  discovered  the  mangled  bodies  of 
the  unfortunate  family  half  consumed  by  fire. 

The  savages,  emboldened  by  their  late  success,  on  the  20th 
attacked  a  small  English  settlement  on  Piscataqua  River,  and 
succeeded  in  murdering  a  part  and  carrying  away  the  remain- 
der of  the  inhabitants  into  captivity.  As  an  instance  of  their 
wanton  barbarity,  it  should  be  here  mentioned,  that,  after  tom- 
ahawking and  scalping  one  of  the  unfortunate  women  of  the 
above  place,  they  bound  to  the  dead  body  her  little  infant,  in 
which  situation  it  was  the  succeeding  day  discovered  by  the 
English,  attempting  to  draw  nourishment  from  its  mother's 
breast. 

The  governor  and  council  of  the  United  Colonies,  conceiv- 
ing it  their  duty,  if  possible,  to  put  a  final  stop  to  the  ravages 
of  the  enemy  in  the  east,  and  to  prevent  the  further  effusion 
of  innocent  blood,  despatched  Major  Wallis  and  Major  Brad- 
ford, with  six  companies  under  their  command,  to  destroy, 
"root  and  branch,"  the  common  enemy.  On  the  '  i  of  De- 
cember they  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Kennebeck,  near 
where  they  were  informed  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  were 
encamped.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d  they  fell  in  with  and 
attacked  them.  The  enemy,  who  were  about  eight  hundred 
strong,  appeared  disposed  to  maintain  their  ground.  They 
fought  with  all  the  fury  of  savages,  and  even  assailed  the 


i 


conceiv- 


COMMENCEMENT   OP   HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES.       75 

English  from  the  tops  of  lofty  trees  whicli  they  ascended  for 
the  purpose.     They  were  possessed  of  but  few  firearms,  but 
hurled  their  tomahawks  with  inconceivable  exactness,  and 
checked  the  pi-ogress  of  the  cavalry  with  long  spears.     Vic- 
tory for  a  long  time  remained  doubtful.     The  ground,  being 
covered  with  snow,  greatly  retarded  the  progress  of  the  troops, 
who  probably  would  have  met  with  a  defeat  had  not  a  fresh 
company  of  infantry  arrived  in  time  to  change  the  fortune 
of  the  day.     These  having  remained  inactive  as  a  body  of 
reserve,  the  commander  found  himself  under  the  necessity  of 
calling  for  their  aid.     The  enemy,  disheartened  at  the  unex- 
pected arrival  of  an  additional  number  of  the  EngUsh,  fled 
with  precipitancy  to  the  woods ;  but  very  few  of  them,  how- 
ever, escaped :  more  than  two  hundred  of  them  remained  dead 
upon  the  field  of  action,  and  doable  that  number  mortally 
wounded.     The  loss  of  the  English  was  twenty-five  killed  and 
forty-four  wounded.     This  engagement,  which  proved  a  deci- 
sive one,  was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  English.     The 
great  and  arduous  work  was  now  completed.     The  few  re- 
maining Indians  that  inhabited  the  eastern  country  now  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  bury  the  bloody  hatchet  and  to  make  peace 
with  the  English.     Their  request  was  cheerfuUy  complied 
with,  and  they  continued  ever  after  the  faithful  friends  of  the 
English. 

From  this  important  period  — which,  bein^j  the  5th  day  of 
December,  1679  —  ought  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  now 
flourishing  states  of  New  England  to  receive  their  date.  It 
was  at  this  period  that  her  hardy  sons  quitted  .he  sanguine  field 
and  exchanged  their  implements  of  death  for  such  as  were 
better  calculated  for  the  cultivation  and  tillage  of  their  farms. 
The  forests  with  which  they  were  encompassed  no  longer 
abounded  with  fierce  and  untutored  savages.  The  Indian 
death  song  and  war  whoop  was  no  longer  heard.  The  greater 
part  of  the  Indians  that  survived  the  many  bloody  engage- 
ments had  sought  peace  and  retirement  far  westward.     The 


76 


INDIAN  NARRATIVES. 


prisonciri  which  the  English  had  captured  were  liberated  upon 
condition  of  resorting  to  and  remabiis^if  with  tiiem.  They 
proved  fiiithl'ul  to  their  promise;  ,hty  took  possession  of  the 
country  bounding  on  the  great  laJies,  and  In  jjossesaion  of 
which  their  descendants  remain  to  the  present  day  —  a  de- 
scription of  whose  manners  and  customs  will  be  found  in  the 
sncceeding  chapter. 

We  shall  close  this  with  a  few  remarks  relative  to  the  state, 
customs,  and  ludicrous  opinions  of  the  Indians  in  New  Eng- 
land when  first  visited  by  our  forefathers,  and  of  their  rapid 
depopulation  since  tljat  period. 

We  cannot  even  hazard  a  conjecture  respecting  the  Indian 
population  of  New  England  at  the  time  of  its  first  settlement 
by  the  English.  Captain  Smith,  in  a  voyage  to  this  coast 
in  1614,  supposed  that  on  Massachusetts  Island  there  were 
about  three  thousand  Indians.  All  accounts  agree  that  the 
sea  coast  and  neighboring  islands  were  thickly  inhabited. 

Three  years  before  the  arrival  of  the  Plymouth  colony  a 
very  mortal  sickness,  supposed  to  have  been  the  plague,  or 
perhaps  the  yellow  fever,  raged  with  great  violence  among 
the  Indians  in  the  eastern  parts  of  New  England.  Whole 
towns  were  depopulated.  The  living  were  not  able  to  bury 
the  dead ;  and  their  bones  were  found  lying  above  ground 
many  years  after.  The  Massachusetts  Indians  are  said  to 
have  been  reduced  from  thirty  thousand  to  three  hundred 
fighting  men.  In  1 633,  the  small  pox  swept  off  great  num- 
bers of  the  Indians  in  Massachusetts. 

In  1763,  on  the  Island  of  Nantucket,  in  the  space  of  four 
months  the  Indians  were  reduced  by  a  mortal  sickness  from 
three  hundred  and  twenty  to  eighty-five  souls.  The  hand  of 
Providence  is  notable  in  these  surprising  instances  of  mortal- 
ity among  the  Indians  to  make  room  for  the  whites.  Com- 
paratively few  have  perished  by  wars  ;  and  the  descendants 
of  the  few  that  were  not  driven  to  the  westward  by  the  English 
waste  and  moulder  away  and  in  a  manner  unaccountable  dis- 
appear. 


COMMENCEMENT   OF   UOSTILITIES    WITH    NATIVES.       77 

The  number  of  Indians  in  the  State  of  Conneeticut,  in  1774, 
was  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty-three  ;  but  their 
number  is  now  doubtless  much  lessened.     The  principal  part 
of  their  population  in  this  state  is  at  Mohegan,  in  the  county 
of  New  London.     These  are  the   descendants  of  the  Mohe- 
gans,  of  wliom  frequent  mention  is    made  in  the  foregoing 
pages  as  being  very  serviceable,  under  the  command  of  Uncus, 
to  the  English,  in  their  many  engagements  with  the  natives. 
The  Mohegans  have  ever  exhibited  great  reverence  for  the 
descendants  of  their  royal  sachem.     After  the  death  of  Uncus, 
his  body  was  conveyed,  by  his  request,  to  Norwich,  and  there 
interred  in  |^e  neighborhood  of  one  of  his  forts.     This  spot 
was  selected  by  him  previous  to  his  death ;   and  it  was  his 
dying  request  that  the  whole  family  of  Uncus  should  be  there 
buried  — a  request  which  has  been  strictly  complied  with  by 
the  Mohegans,  who,  although  the  distance  is  seven  miles  from 
their  own  burying  ground,  have  deposited,  and  continue  to 
deposit  there,  the  descendants  of  their  revered  sachem. 

The  number  of  Indians  in  Rhode  Island,  in  1783,  was  only 
five  hundred  and  twenty-five.  More  than  Imlf  of  these  live 
in  Charleston,  in  the  county  of  Washington.  In  1774  the 
number  of  Indians  in  Rhode  Island  was  one  thousand  four 
hundred  and  eighty-two ;  so  that,  in  nine  years,  the  decrease 
was  nine  hundred  and  fifty-seven.  We  have  not  been  able  to 
ascertain  the  exact  state  of  the  Indian  population  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  Hampshire.  In  1784  there  was  a  tribe  of  ' 
about  forty  Indians  at  Norridgewalk,  in  the  Province  of 
Maine,  with  some  few  other  scattering  remains  of  tribes  in 
other  parts,  and  a  number  of  t  vns  thinly  inhabited  round 
Cape  Cod. 

When  the  English  first  arrived  in  America,  the  Indians 
had  no  time  or  places  set  apart  for  religious  worship.  The 
first  settlers  in  New  England  were  at  great  pains  to  introduce 
among  them  the  habits  of  civilized  life  and  to  instruct  them 
in  the  Christian  religion.  A  few  years'  intercourse  with  the 
•    7* 


:-t1 


t  f4 


t 

I.'. 


78 


INDIAN   NARUATIVE8. 


liuliaiis  induced  them  to  establish  Huvcrul  good  and  natural 
regulations. 

The   Rev.  Mr.  Elliot,  of  Roxbury,  near  Boston,  who  has 
been    styled   the   great  "Indian  apostle,"  with  rnueh  labor 
learned  the  Natic  dialect  u  the  Indian  languages.     He  pub- 
lished an  Indian  grammar,  and  preached  in  Indian  to  several 
tribes,  and,  in  IG64,  translated  the  Bible  and  several  religious 
books  into  the  Indian  language.     He  relates  several  pertinent 
queries   of    the   Indians   respecting  the   Christian   religion; 
among  others,  whether  Jesus  Christ,  the  Mediator,  or  Inter- 
preter, could  understand  prayer  in  the  Indian  language.     If 
the  father  be  bad  and  the  child  good,  why  should  God,  in  the 
second  commandment,  be  offended  with  the  child  ?  *  How  the 
Indians  came  to  differ  so  much  from   the  English  in  the 
knowledge  of  God  and  Jesus  Christ,  since  they  all  sprang 
from  one  father.     Mr.  Elliot  was  indefatigable  in  his  labors, 
and  travelled  through  all  parts  of  Massachusetts  and  Plym- 
outh colonies  as  far  as  Cape  Cod.     The  colony  had  such  a 
veneration  for  him,  that,  in  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly 
relating  to  Indians,  they  express  themselves  thus :  «  By  the 
advice  of  the  said  magistrates  and  of  Mr.  Elliot." 

Concerning  the  religion  of  the  untaught  natives  of  New 
England,  who  once  held  a  plurality  of  deities,  after  the  arri- 
val of  the  English  they  supposed  there  were  only  three,  be- 
cause they  saw  people  of  three  kinds  of  complexions ;  viz^ 
English,  negroes,  and  themselves. 

It  was  a  notion  pretty  generally  prevailing  among  them 
that  it  was  not  the  same  God  made  them  who  made  us,  but 
that  they  were  created  after  the  white  people ;  and  it  is  prob- 
able they  supposed  theit  God  gained  some  special  skill  by 
seeing  the  white  people  made,  and  so  made  them  better.  For 
it  is  certain  they  looked  upon  themselves  and  their  methods 
of  living,  which  they  say  their  God  expressly  prescribed  for 
them,  as  vastly  preferable  to  the  white  people  and  their 
methods. 


COMMENCEMENT   OF  HOSTILITIES    WJTfl   NATIVES.       79 


With  regard  to  a  future  state  of  existence,  many  of  them 
imagined  that  the  chichuny,  that  is,  tl»o  shadow,  or  what  sur- 
vived the  body,  would  at  death  go  southward,  and  in  an  un- 
known but  curious  place;  would  enjoy  worn o  kind  of  happi- 
ness, such  as  hunting,  feasting,  dancing,  and  the  like.  And 
what  they  supposed  would  contribute  much  to  their  happiness 
v/as,  that  they  should  there  never  be  weary  of  those  enter- 
tainments. 

The  natives  of  New  England  believed  not  only  a  plurality 
of  gods,  who  made  and  governed  the  several  nations  of  the 
world,  but  they  made  deities  of  every  thing  they  imagined  to 
be  great,  powerful,  beneficial,  and  hurtful  to  mankind :  yet 
they  conceived  an  almighty  Being,  whom  they  called  Kich- 
tau,  who  at  first,  according  to  their  tradition,  made  a  man 
and  woman  out  of  stone;  but  upon  some  dislike  destroyed 
them  again,  and  then  made  another  couple  out  of  a  tree,  from 
whom  descended  all  the  nations  of  the  earth ;  but  how  they 
came  to  be  scattered  and  dispersed  into  countries  so  remote 
from  one  another,  they  could  not  tell.  They  believed  their 
supreme  Grod  to  be  a  good  Being,  and  paid  a  sort  of  acknowl- 
edgment to  him  for  plenty,  victory,  and  other  benefits. 

The  immortality  of  the  soul  was  universally  believed  among 
them.  When  good  men  died  they  said  their  souls  went  to 
Kichtau,  where  they  met  with  their  friends  and  enjoyed  all 
manner  of  pleasures.  When  the  wicked  died  they  went  to 
Kichtau  also,  but  were  commanded  to  walk  away,  and  so 
wander  about  in  restless  discontent  and  darkness  forever. 

The  natives  of  New  England,  in  general,  were  quick  of 
apprehension,  and  ingenious ;  and,  when  pleased,  nothing  could 
exceed  their  courtesy  and  friendship.  Gravity  and  eloquence 
distinguit^hed  them  in  council,  address  and  bravery  in  v.ar. 
They  were  not  more  easily  provoked  than  the  English ;  but 
when  once  they  had  received  an  injury  it  was  never  forgotten. 
In  anger  they  were  not  like  the  English,  talkative  and  bois- 
terous, but  sullen  and  revengeful.     The  men  declined  all 


I 


80 


INDIAN  NARRATIVES. 


labor,  and  spent  their  time  in  hunting,  fishing,  shooting,  and 
warlike  exercises.  They  imposed  all  the  drudgery  upon  their 
women,  who  gathered  and  brought  home  their  wood,  planted, 
dressed,  and  gathered  their  corn.  When  they  travelled  the 
women  carried  their  children,  packs,  and  provisions.  The 
women  submitted  patiently  to  such  treatment :  this  ungener- 
ous usage  of  their  husbands  they  repaid  with  smiles  and  good 
humor. 

The  clothing  of  the  natives  was  the  skins  of  wild  beasts. 
The  men  threw  a  mantle  of  skins  over  them,  and  wor3  a 
small  flap,  which  were  termed  Indian  breeches.  The  women 
were  much  more  modest :  they  wore  a  coat  of  skins,  gir*:  about 
their  loins,  which  reached  down  to  their  hams,  which  they 
never  put  off  in  company.  If  the  husband  chose  to  dispose 
of  his  wife's  beaver  petticoat,  she  could  not  be  persuaded  to 
part  with  it  until  he  had  provided  another  of  some  sort.  In 
the  winter  their  blanket  of  skins,  which  hung  loose  in  sum- 
mer, was  tied  or  wrapped  more  closely  about  them.  The 
old  men  in  the  severe  seasons  also  wore  a  sort  of  trousers, 
made  of  skins  and  fastened  to  their  girdles ;  and  on  their 
feet  they  wore  moccasons  made  of  moose  leather ;  and  their 
chiefs,  or  sachems,  wore  on  their  heads  a  cap  decorated  with 
feathers. 

Their  houses,  or  wigwams,  were  at  best  but  miserable  cells. 
They  were  constructed  generally  like  arbors,  or  small  young 
trees  bent  and  twisted  together,  and  so  curiously  covered  with 
mats  or  bark  that  they  were  tolerably  dry  and  warm.  The 
natives  made  their  fires  in  the  centre  of  the  house  ;  and  there 
was  an  opening  at  the  top,  which  emitted  the  smoke.  For 
the  convenience  of  wood  and  water  these  huts  were  common- 
ly erected  in  groves,  near  some  river,  brook,  or  living  spring ; 
when  either  failed,  the  family  removed  to  another  place. 

They  lived  in  a  poor,  low  manner ;  their  food  was  coarse 
and  simple,  without  any  kind  of  seasoning  ;  they  had  neither 
spice,  salt,  or  bread.    Their  food  was  principally  the  entrails 


COMMENCEMENT   OF   HOSTILITIES    WITH   NATIVES.       81 


of  moose,  deer,  bears,  and  all  kinds  of  wild  beasts  and  fowls  : 
of  fish  and  snakes  they  were  extremely  fond.  They  had 
strong  rftomaohs,  and  nothing  came  amiss.  They  had  no  set 
meals,  but,  like  other  wild  creatures,  ate  when  they  were  hun- 
gry and  could  iind  any  thing  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  nature. 
They  had  but  little  food  from  the  earth  except  what  it  spon- 
taneously produced.  Indian  corn,  beans,  and  squashes  were 
the  only  eatables  for  which  the  natives  of  New  England 
labored. 

Their  household  furniture  was  of  but  small  value.  Their 
beds  were  composed  of  mats  or  skins.  They  had  neither  chairs 
nor  stools;  but  commonly  sat  upon  the  gi  und,  with  their 
elbows  upon  their  knees.  A  few  wooden  and  stone  vessels 
and  instruments  served  all  the  purposes  of  domestic  life. 
Their  knife  was  a  sharp  stone,  shell,  or  kind  of  reed,  which 
they  sharpened  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cut  their  hair,  make 
their  bows  and  arrows,  &c.  They  made  their  axes  of  stone, 
which  they  shaped  somewhat  similar  to  our  axes,  but  with 
the  difference  of  theirs  being  made  with  a  neck  instead  of  an 
eye,  and  fastened  with  a  with  like  a  blacksmith's  chisel. 

The  manner  of  the  courtship  and  marriage  of  the  natives 
manifested  the  impurity  of  their  morals.  When  a  young 
Indian  wished  for  marriage,  he  presented  the  girl  with  whom 
he  was  enamoured  with  bracelets,  belts,  and  chains  of  wampum. 
If  she  received  his  presents  they  cohabited  together  for  a 
time  upon  trial ;  if  they  pleased  each  other  they  were  joined 
in  marriage  ;  tut  if,  after  a  few  weeks,  they  werb  not  suited, 
the  man,  leaving  his  presents,  quitted  the  girl  and  sought 
another  mistress,  and  she  another  lover.  In  this  manner  they 
courted  until  two  met  who  were  agreeable  to  each  other. 

The  natives  of  New  England,  although  ',aey  consisted  of  a 
great  number  of  different  nations  and  clans,  appear  to  have 
spoken  radically  the  same  language :  from  Piscataqua  to 
Connecticut  it  was  so  neai'ly  the  same  that  the  different  tribes 
could  converse  tolerably  together.    The  Mohegau,  or  Pequot, 


f'. 


82 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


language  was  essentially  that  of  all  the  Indians  in  New  Eng- 
land. The  word  Mohegan  is  a  corruption  of  Muhhekaneew 
in  the  singular,,  or  of  Muhhekaneek  in  the  plural  number. 
The  Penobscots  bordering  on  Nova  Scotia,  the  Indians  of 
St.  Francis  in  Canada,  the  Delawares  in  Pennsylvania,  the 
Shawanese  on  the  Ohio,  and  the  Chippewaus  at  the  west- 
ward of  Lake  Huron,  all  now  speak  the  same  radical  lan- 
guage. 


i 


;s 


w  Eng- 
ikaneew 
lumber, 
ians  of 
nia,  the 
e  west- 
3al  Ian- 


WASHINGTON'S  EXPEDITION  IN  1753; 

AND 

DEFEAT  OF  GENERAL  BRADDOCK,   BY  THE 
INDIANS,  IN  1755. 

In  1753  the  French  and  Indians  began  to  make  inroads 
on  our  western  frontiers  along  the  Ohio.  Governor  Dinwid- 
die,  of  Virginia,  was  very  desirous  tc  get  a  letter  of  remon- 
strance to  their  commander-in-chief.  He  had  applied  to  sev- 
eral young  gentlemen  of  his  acquaintance ;  but  they  were  all 
so  deficient  in  courage  that  they  could  not  be  prevailed  on 
for  love  or  money  to  venture  out  among  the  savages.  Our 
beloved  Washington,  happening  to  hear  of  it,  instantly  waited 
on  his  excellency  and  offered  his  services,  but  not  without 
being  terribly  afraid  lest  his  want  of  a  beard  should  go  against 
him.  However,  the  governor  was  so  charmed  with  his  mod- 
esty and  manly  air  that  he  never  asked  him  a  syllable  about 
his  age ;  but,  after  thanking  him  for  "  a  noble  youth,"  and 
insisting  on  his  taking  a  glass  of  wine  with  him,  slipped  a 
commission  into  his  hand.  The  next  day,  accompanied  by  an 
interpreter  and  a  couple  of  servants,  he  set  out  on  his  expe- 
dition, which  was,  from  start  to  pole,  as  disagreeable  and  dan- 
gerous as  any  thing  Hercules  himself  could  have  wished. 
Soaking  rains,  chilling  blasts,  roaring  floods,  pathless  woods, 
and  mountains  clad  in  snovli  opposed  his  course,  but  opposed 
in  vain.  The  glorious  ambition  to  serve  his  country  imparted 
an  animation  to  his  nerves  which  rendered  him  superior  to  ail 
difficulties. 

(83) 


-•<■•'■ 


n 


84 


INDTAN    NARRATIVES,. 


Returning  homewards  lie  was  waylaid  and  shot  at  by  a 
French  Indian  ;  and  though  the  copper-colored  ruthan  was 
not  fifteen  steps  distant  when  he  fired  at<Jiim,  yet  not  even  so 
much  as  the  smell  of  lead  passed  on  the  clothes  of  our  young 
hero.  On  his  return  to  Virginia  it  was  found  that  he  had 
executed  his  negotiations,  both  with  the  French  and  Indians, 
with  such  fidelity  and  judgment  that  he  received  the  hearti- 
est thanks  of  the  governor  and  council  for  the  very  important 
services  he  had  done  his  country. 

He  was  now,  in  the  twentieth  year  of  his  age,  appointed 
major  and  adjutant  general  of  the  Virginia  forces.  Soon  after 
this,  the  Indians  continuing  their  encroachments,  orders  were 
given  by  the  English  government  for  the  colonies  to  arm  and 
unite  in  one  confederacy.  Virginia  took  the  lead,  and  raised 
a  regiment  of  four  hundred  men,  at  the  head  of  which  she 
placed  her  darling  Washington. 

"With  this  handful  of  brave  fellows  Colonel  Washington, 
not  yet  twenty-three  years  of  age,  boldly  pushed  out  into  the 
Indian  country,  and  there,  for  a  considerable  time,  Hannibal- 
like, maintained  the  war  against  three  times  the  number  of 
French  and  Indians.  At  the  Red  Stones  he  came  up  with  a 
strong  party  of  the  enemy,  whom  he  engaged  and  effectually 
defeated,  after  having  killed  and  taken  thirty-one  men.  From 
his  prisoners  he  obtained  undoubted  intelligence  that  the 
French  forces  on  the  Ohio  consisted  of  upwards  of  a  thousand 
regulars  and  many  hundreds  of  Indians.  But,  notwithstand- 
ing this  disheartening  advice,  he  still  pressed  on  undauntedly 
against  the  enemy,  and  at  a  place  called  the  Little  Meadows 
built  a  fort,  which  he  called  Fort  Necessity.  Here  he  waited, 
hourly  and  anxiously  looking  for  succors  from  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania ;  but  he  looked  in  vain.  Nobody  came  to  his 
assistance.  Not  long  after  this,  his  small  force,  now  reduced 
to  three  hundred  men,  were  attacked  by  an  army  of  eleven 
hundred  French  and  Indians.  Never  did  the  true  Virginian 
valor  shine  more  gloriously  than  on  this  trying  oc<!asion. 


'j  Xoftv^v^ 


ri'-'  yyy„-/>. 


WASHINGTON'S    EXPEDITION,    ETC. 


85 


ft 


To  aee  three  hundred  young  fellows,  commanded  by  a 
smoothfaced  boy,  all  unaccustomed  to  the  terrors  of  war ;  far 
from  home  and  from  all  hopes  of  help;  shut  up  in  a  dreary 
wilderness,  and  surrounded  by  four  times  their  number  of 
savage  foes  ;  and  yet,  without  sign  of  fear,  without  thoughf  of 
surrender,  preparing  for  mortal  combat,  —  O,  it  was  a  noble 
sight!  Scarcely  since  the  days  of  Leonidas  and  his  three 
hundred  deathless  Spartans  had  the  sun  beheld  its  equal. 
With  hideous  whoops  and  yells  the  enemy  came  on  like  a  host 
of  tigers.  The  woods,  and  rocks,  and  tall  tree  tops,  as  the 
Indians,  climbing  to  the  tops  of  the  trees,  poured  down  their 
bullets  into  the  fort,  were  in  one  continued  blaze  and  crash  of 
firearms.  Nor  were  our  young  warriors  idle,  but,  animated 
by  their  gallant  chief,  plied  their  rifles  w;.  such  suirit  that 
their  little  fort  represented  a  volcano  in  full  blast,  roaring  and 
discharging  thick  sheets  of  liquid  fire  and  of  leaden  deaths 
among  their  foes.  For  three  glorious  hours,  salamander-like, 
enveloped  in  smoke  and  flame,  they  sustained  the  attack  of 
the  enemy's  whole  force,  and  laid  two  hundred  of  them  dead 
on  the  spot.  Discouraged  by  such  desperate  resistance,  the 
French  general,  the  Count  de  Villiers,  sent  in  a  flag  to  Wash- 
ington, extolling  his  gallantry  to  the  skies,  and  offering  him 
the  most  honorable  terms.  It  was  stipulated  that  Colonel 
Washington  and  his  little  band  of  heroes  should  march  away 
with  all  the  honors  of  war,  and  carry  with  them  their  military 
stores  and  baggage. 

In  the  spring  of  1755  Washington,  while  busied  in  the 
highest  military  operations,  was  summoned  to  attend  General 
Braddock,  who,  in  the  month  of  February,  arrived  at  Alexan- 
dria with  two  thousand  British  troops.  The  Assembly  of 
Virginia  appointed  eight  hundred  ,  r.tvinciala  to  join  him. 
The  object  of  this  army  was  to  ma-  'h  through  the  country, 
by  the  way  of  Will's  Creek,  to  Fort  Du  Quesne,  now  Pitts- 
burg, or  Fort  Pitt.  As  no  person  was  so  well  acquainted 
with  the  frontier  country  as  Washington,  and  none  stood  so 
8 


M 


! 


86 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


high  in  military  fame,  it  was  thought  he  would  be  infinitely 
serviceable  to  General  Braddock.  At  the  request  of  the 
governor  and  council  he  cheerfully  quitted  his  own  command 
to  act  as  volunteer  aid-de-camp  to  that  very  imprudent  and 
unfbrtunate  general.  The  army,  near  three  thousand  strong, 
marched  from  Alexandria,  and  proceeded  unmolested  within 
a  few  miles  of  Fort  Pitt.  On  the  morning  of  the  day  in 
which  they  expected  to  arrive  the  provincial  scouts  discov- 
ered a  large  party  of  French  and  Indians  lying  in  ambush. 
Washington,  with  his  usual  modesty,  observed  to  General 
Braddock  hat  sort  of  enemy  he  had  now  to  deal  with  —  an 
enemy  who  would  not,  like  the  Europeans,  come  forward  to  a 
fair  contest  in  the  field,  but.  concealed  behind  rocKs  and  trees, 
carry  on  a  deadly  warfare  wUh  Jheir  rifles.  He  concluded 
with  begging  that  General  Braddock  woald  grant  him  the 
honor  to  let  him  place  himself  at  the  head  of  the  Virginia 
riflemen  and  fight  them  in  their  own  way  And  it  was  gen- 
erally thought  that  our  young  hero  and  his  eight  hundred 
hearts  of  hickory  woiVU^  very  easily  have  beaten  them  too  ; 
for  they  were  not  superior  to  the  force  which,  wnth  only  three 
hundred,  he  had  handled  so  roughly  a  twelvemonth  before. 
But  General  Braddock,  who  had  all  along  ti'eated  the  Ameri- 
can otBcers  and  soldiers  with  infinite  contempt,  instead  of  fol- 
lowing this  truly  salutary  advice,  swelled  and  reddened  with 
most  unmanly  rage.  "  High  times,  bj  G — d ! "  he  exclaimed, 
strutting  to  and  fro,  with  arms  akimbo.  "  High  times,  when 
a  young  buckskin  can  teach  a  British  general  how  to  fight !  " 
Washington  withdrew,  biting  his  lips  with  grief  and  indigna- 
tion to  think  what  numbers  of  bfave  fellows  would  draw  short 
breath  that  day  through  the  pride  and  obstinacy  of  one  epau- 
letted  fool.  The  troops  were  ordered  to  form  and  advance 
in  columns  through  the  woods.  In  a  little  time  the  ruin 
which  Washington  had  predicted  ensued.  This  poor,  devoted 
army,  pushed  on  by  their  madcap  general,  fell  into  tiie  fatal 
snare  which  was  laid  for  them.    All  at  once  a  thousand  rifles 


1 


■Washington's  expedition,  etc. 


87 


began  the  work  of  death.  The  ground  was  instantly  covered 
with  the  dying  and  the  dead.  The  British  troops,  thus  slaugh- 
tered by  hundreds,  and  by  an  enemy  whom  they  could  not 
see,  were  thrown  irrecoverably  into  panic  and  confusion  ;  and 
in  a  few  minutes  their  haughty  general,  with  twelve  hundred 
of  his  brave  but  unfortunate  countrymen,  bit  the  ground. 
Poor  Braddock  closed  the  tragedy  with  great  decency.  He 
was  mortally  wounded  in  the  beginning  of  the  action,  and 
Washington  had  him  placed  in  a  cart  ready  for  retreat.  Close 
on  the  left,  where  the  weight  of  the  French  and  Indian  fire 
principally  fell,  Washington  and  his  Virginia  riflemen,  dressed 
in  blue,  sustained  the  shock.  At  every  discharge  of  their 
rifles  the  wounded  general  cried  out,  "  O  my  brave  -Virginia 
blues,  would  to  God  I  could  live  to  reward  you  for  such 
gallantry ! "  But  he  died.  Washington  buried  him  in  the 
road,  and,  to  save  him  from  discovery  and  the  scalping  knife, 
ordered  the  wagons  on  their  retreat  to  drive  over  his  grave. 
O  God,  what  is  man  ?     Even  a  thing  of  nought. 

Amidst  all  this  fearful  consternation  and  carnage,  amidst 
all  the  uproar  and  horrors  of  a  rout,  rendered  still  more 
dreadful  by  the  groans  of  the  dying,  the  screams  of  the 
wounded,  the  piercing  shri(?ks  of  the  women,  and  the  yells  of 
the  furious  assaulting  savages,  Washington,  calm  and  self- 
collected,  rallied  his  faithful  riflemen,  led  them  on  to  the 
charge,  killed  numbers  of  the  enemy  who  were  rushing  on 
with  tomahawks,  checked  their  pursuit,  and  brought  otF  the 
shattered  remains  of  the  British  army. 

With  respect  to  our  beloved  Washington  we  cannot  but 
mention  here  two  very  extraordinary  speeches  that  were  ut- 
tered about  him  at  this  time,  and  which,  as  things  have  turned 
out,  look  a  good  deal  like  prophecies.  A  famous  Indian  war- 
rior, who  assisted  in  the  defeat  of  Braddock,  was  often  heard 
to  swear  that  Washington  was  not  born  to  be  killed  by  a 
bullet ;  "  for,"  continued  he,  '- 1  had  seventeen  fair  fires  at 
him  with  my  rifle ;  and,  after  all,  I  could  not  bring  him  to  the 


I! 


8a 


INDIAN   NARUATIVEB. 


ground."  And  indeed,  whoever  considers  that  a  good  rifle, 
levelled  by  a  proper  inarksuiun,  hardly  ever  misses  its  aim, 
will  readily  enough  conclude,  with  this  unlettered  savage,  that 
Borae  invisible  hand  must  have  turned  aside  his  bullets. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Davies,  in  i  sermon  occasioned  by  General 
Braddock's  defeat,  has  these  remarkable  words :  "  I  beg  leave 
to  point  the  attention  of  the  public  to  that  heioic  youth.  Col- 
onel George  Washington,  whom  I  cannot  but  hope  Providence 
has  preserved  for  some  great  service  to  this  country." 


..  'I. 


ll 


EXPEDITION   AND   DEFEAT   OF   GENERAL 
HARMER  BY  THE  INDIANS,  1790. 


ill 


Although  a  peace  was  happily  effected  between  the  two 
contending  parties,  Great  Britain  and  America,  in  1783,  yet 
the  savages,  who  had  been  persuaded  to  take  a  part  witli  the 
former,  were  unwilling  to  bury  the  bloody  hatchet.  They 
had  not  sufficiently  bathed  that  destructive  weapon  in  the 
blood  of  the  Americans.  Without  any  pretext  whatever,  they 
continued  to  exercise  towards  them  the  most  wanton  acts  of 
barbarity.  It  appeared  from  respectable  evidence  that  from 
the  year  1783  until  the  month  of  October,  1790,  the  time  the 
United  States  commenced  offensive  operations  against  the  said 
Indians,  that  on  the  Ohio  and  the  frontiers  on  the  south  side 
thereof,  they  killed,  wounded,  and  took  prisoners  about  one 
thousand  five  hundred  men,  women,  and  children,  besides  car- 
rying off  upwards  of  two  thousand  horses  and  other  property 
to  the  amount  of  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

The  particulars  of  many  of  the  instances  of  barbarity  ex- 
ercised upon  the  prisoners  of  different  ages  and  sexes,  al- 
though supported  by  indisputable  evidence,  are  of  too  shocking 
a  nature  to  be  presented  to  the  public.  It  is  sufficient  here 
to  observe  that  the  scalping  knife  and  tomahawk  were  the 
mildest  instruments  of  death  ;  that  in  some  cases  torture  by 
fire  and  other  execrable  means  were  used. 

But  the  outrages  which  were  committed  upon  the  frontier 
inhabitants  were  not  the  only  injuries  that  were  sustained. 
Repeated  attacks  upon  detachments  of  the  troops  of  the  Unit- 
ed iStiates  were  at  different  times  made.     The  following,  from 

y  *  (80) 


r-* 


4 


if 


90 


INDIAN   NAKKATIVKS. 


its  peculiar  enormity,  deserves  recital:  In  April,  1790,  Major 
Doughty,  in  .service  of  the  United  States,  was  ordered  to  the 
friendly  Chicasaws  on  public  business.     He  performed  this 
duty  in  a  boat,   having  with  him  a  party  of  fifteen  men. 
While  ascending  the  Tennessee  River  he  was  met  by  a  party 
of  forty  Indians   in  four   canoes,  consisting   principally  of 
Shawanese  and  outcast  Cherokees.     They  approached  under 
a  white  flag,  the  well-known  emblem  of  peace.     They  came 
on  board  the  major's  boat,  received  his  presents,  continued 
with  him  nearly  an  hour,  and  then  departed  in  the  most 
friendly  manner.     i3ut  they  had  scarcely  cleared  his  oars  be- 
fore they  poured  in  a  fire  upon  his  crew,  which  was  returned 
as  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit,  and  a  most  unequal 
combat  was  sustained  for  several  hours,  when  they  abandoned 
their  design,  but  not  until  they  had  killed  and  wounded  eleven 
out  of  fifteen  of  the  boat's  crew. 

All  overtures  of  peace  failing,  and  the  depredations  still 
continuing,  an  attempt  at  coercion  became  indispensable. 
Accordingly,  on  the  30th  of  September,  1790,  the  president, 
by  and  with  the  consent  and  advice  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  despatched  General  Harmer,  with  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  federal  troops  and  eleven  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  militia  under  his  command,  to  attack  and  destroy  their 
principal  villages. 

The  troops,  after  seventeen  days'  march  from  Miami, 
reached  the  great  Miami  village  without  any  other  molesta- 
tion than  that  of  having  a  number  of  their  packhorses  stolen. 
On  their  arrival  they  found  the  village  deserted,  and  all  the 
valuable  buildings  in  flames,  set  on  tire  by  the  Indians.  After 
a  short  tarry  they  proceeded  to  the  neighboring  villages  with- 
out molestation  and  destroyed  five  of  them  and  a  large  quan- 
tity of  corn,  computed  at  fifteen  thousand  bushels,  which  they 
found  buried  in  difl'erent  places,  and  very  large  quantities  of 
vegetables  of  every  kind. 
The  first  opposition  that  was  met  with,  a  party  of  about  one 


EXPEDITION    AND    DKFEAT    OP   OEN.    HAllMKR. 


91 


hundred  and  fifty  Kentucky  militia  and  thirty  rcguhir  troops, 
all  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Hartilng,  of  Kentucky, 
were  detached  from  the  main  hody  lying  in  the  great  Miami 
village,  to  pursue  the  trail  of  a  party  of  Indians  which  had 
the  day  before  been  discover.    .     After  a  pursuit  of  about  six 
milea  they  (uime  up  with  and  were  attacked  on  surprise  by  a 
body  of  Indiana  who  were  concealed  in  the  thickets  on  every 
side  of  a  large  plain ;  and  on  the  first  onset  the  militia,  with- 
out exchanging  a  single  shot,  made  a  most  precipitate  retreat, 
and  left  the  regular  troops  to  stand  the  whole  charge  of  the 
Indians.     The  conflict  was  short  and  bloody  ;  the  troops  were 
soon  overpowered  by  numbers ;  and  all  fell,  except  two  offi- 
cers and  two  or  three  privates,  after  defending  themselves  at 
their  bayonet   points  with    the   greatest    possible   obstinacy. 
Ensign  Hartshorn  was  one  of  the  officers  who  providentially 
escaped ;  and  his  escape  appeared  to  depend  more  on  a  lucky 
circumstance  of  faltermg  over  a  log  in  his  retreat,  and  by  that 
means  screening  himself  from  the  eye  of  his  pursuers,  than 
from  any  other  circumstance.     Captain  Armstrong,  who  com- 
manded the  party,  likewise  made  his  escape  by  plunging  him- 
self into  a  pond,  or  swamp,  up  to  his  neck,  within  two  hundred 
yards  of  the  field  of  action,  where  he  remained  the  whole  night 
a  spectator  to  the  horrid  scene  of  the  war  dance  performed 
over  the  dead  and  wounded  bodies  of  the  poor  soldiers  that 
had  fallen  the  preceding  day  ;  where  their  shrieks,  mixed  with 
the  horrid  yells  of  the  savages,  rendered  his  situation  shocking. 
After  this  some  few  skirmishes  succeeded,  but  nothin"  ma- 
terial until  the  second  capital   action,  which   happened  two 
days  after  the  array  left  the  Miami  village.     At  ten  miles' 
distance  from  the  town  the  general  ordered  a  halt,  and  de- 
tached from  four  to  five  hundred  militia  and  about  sixty  reg- 
ular soldiers,  under  the  command  of  Major  Wyllys  and  Colo- 
nel Harding,  who  were  ordered  to  march  back  to  the  town. 
On  their  first  entrance  there  appeared  a  small  body  of  In- 
.  ., si,j.   i.iiuicuiaieij'  iic\i  ai  iiic  iiiDi  Oiisci,  uiiu   uv  tnat 


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(716)  8724;.03 


^ 


9a 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


means  decoyed  the  whole  body  of  the  militia,  by  making  their 
flight  in  different  directions  and  encouraging  the  militia  to 
pursue.  By  this  stratagem  the  few  regular  troops  were  left 
alone,  and  the  Indians  had  effected  their  design.;  for,  the  mo- 
ment they  found  the  small  handful  of  regular  troops  detached 
from  the  main  body  of  the  militia,  they  commenced  the  attack 
with  their  whole  force,  excepting  the  flying  parties  that  had 
divided  the  militia;  and  although  they  soon  found  some  part 
of  the  mihtia  returning  on  their  backs,  pursued  their  object 
of  routing  and  destroying  the  troops  as  the  only  sure  plan  of 
success,  which,  after  a  most  bloody  conflict  on  each  side,  they 
effected. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  intrepidity  of  the  savages  on  this 
occasion.  The  militia  they  appeared  to  despise,  and,  with  all 
the  undauntedness  conceivable,  threw  down  their  guns  and 
rushed  upon  the  bayonets  of  the  regular  soldiers.  A  number 
of  them  fell,  but  being  so  far  superior  in  numbers  the  regu- 
lars were  soon  overpowered ;  for,  while  the  poor  soldier  had 
his  bayonet  in  one  Indian,  two  more  would  sink  their  toma- 
hawks in  his  head.  The  defeat  of  the  troops  was  complete ; 
the  dead  and  wounded  were  left  on  the  field  of  action  in  pos- 
session of  the  savages. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  official  return  of  the  killed 
and  wounded  in  the  expedition :  — 

Killed  of  the  Federal  Troops. 

1  major,  1  lieutenant,  73  rank  and  file  ;  total,  75.  Wound- 
ed,  3  rank  and  file. 

Killed  of  the  Militia. 

1  major,  3  captains,  2  lieutenants,  4  ensigns,  98  rank  and 
file;  total,  180.  Wounded,  2  lieutenants,  1  ensign,  25  rank 
and  file ;  total,  28. 

The  regular  troops,  all  but  nine,  including  two  commissioned 


EXPEDITION   AND    DEFEAT   OP   GEN.   HABMER. 


93 


officers,  were  killed.  Among  the  slain  was  Major  Wyllys 
and  a  number  of  brave  and  valuable  soldiers.  The  Indians, 
it  appeared  from  some  cause,  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  pur- 
sue their  successes  from  the  field  of  action ;  as  most  of  the 
troops  that  were  not  killed  or  badly  wounded  made  their 
escape,  which  they  could  not  have  effected  had  the  enemy 
pursued  with  their  usual  fury. 


%. 


II  ' 


EXPEDITIONS  OF  GENERALS  SCOTT  AND  WIL- 
KINSON, IN  MAY  AND  AUGUST,   1791. 

GENERAL    SCOTT   TO    THE    SECRETARY   OP   WAR. 

Sir, —  la  prosecution  of  the' enterprise,  I  marched  with 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  troops  under  my  command,  four  miles 
from  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  on  the  23d  of  May;  and  on  the 
^4th  I  resumed  my  march  and  pushed  forward  with  the  ut- 
most  mdustry,  directing  my  route  to  Ouiattannan  in  the  best 
manner  my  guides  and  information  enabled  me,  thou-h  I 
found  myself  greatly  deficient  in  both. 

By  the  31st  I  had  marched  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
miles  over  a  country  cut  by  four  large  branches  of  White 
River,  and  many  smaller  streams  with  steep,  muddy  banks 
During  this  march  I  traversed  a  country  alternately  inter- 
spersed  with  the  most  luxurious  soil  and  deep  clayey  bogs 
from  one  to  five  miles  wide,  rendered  almost  impervious  by 
brush  and  briers.     Rain  fell  in  torre  ts  every  day,  with  fre- 
quent blasts  of  wind  and  thunder  storms.     These  obstacles 
impeded  my  progress,  wore  down  my  horses,  and  destroyed 
my  provisions. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1st  instant,  as  the  army  entered 
an  extensive  prairie,  I  perceived  an  Indian  on  horseback  a 
few  miles  to  the  right.  I  immediately  made  a  detachment  to 
intercept  him ;  but  he  escaped.  Finding  myself  discovered  I 
determined  to  advance  with  all  the  rapidity  my  circumstances 
would  permit,  rather  with  the  hope  than  the  expectation  of 
reaching  the  object  sought  that  day;  for  my  guides  were 

(94) 


EXPEDITIONS  OF  OENERALS  SCOTT  AND  WILKINSON.      95 


Strangers  to  the  country  which  I  occupied.  At  one  o'clock, 
having  marched  by  computation  one  hundred  and  fifty-five 
miles  from  the  Ohio,  as  I  penetrated  a  grove  which  bordered 
on  an  extensive  prairie,  I  discovered  two  small  villages  to  my 
left,  at  two  and  four  miles'  distance. 

My  guides  now  recognized  the  ground,  and  informed  me 
that  the  main  town  was  four  or  five  miles  in  front,  be- 
hind a  point  of  wood  which  jutted  into  the  prairie.  I  imme- 
diately detached  Colonel  John  Hardin  with  sixty  mounted 
infantry,  and  a  troop  of  light  horse  under  Captain  M'Coy, 
to  attack  the  villages  to  the  left,  and  moved  on  briskly  with 
my  main  body  in  order  of  battle  towards  the  town,  the  smoke 
of  which  was  discernible.  My  guides  were  deceived  with 
respect  to  the  situation  of  the  town ;  for,  in^  oad  of  standing  at 
the  edge  of  the  plain  through  which  I  marched,  I  found  in 
the  low  ground  bordering  on  the  Wabash,  on  turning  the 
point  of  woods,  one  house  presented  in  my  front.  Captain 
Price  was  ordered  to  assault  that  with  forty  men.  He  ex- 
ecuted the  command  with  great  gallantry,  and  killed  two 
warriors. 

When  I  gained  the  summit  of  the  eminence  which  over- 
looks the  villages  on  the  banks  of  the  Wabash,  I  discovered 
the  enemy  in  great  confusion,  endeavoring  to  make  their  es- 
cape over  the  river  in  canoes.  I  instantly  ordered  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Commandant  Wilkinson  to  rush  forward  with  the 
first  battalion.  The  order  was  executed  with  promptitude, 
and  this  detachment  gained  the  bank  of  the  river  just  as  the 
rear  of  the  enemy  had  embarked  ;  and,  regardless  of  a  brisk 
fire  kept  up  from  a  Kickapoo  town  on  the  opposite  bank,  they 
in  a  few  minutes,  by  a  well-directed  fire  from  their  rifies,  de- 
stroyed all  the  savages  with  which  five  canoes  were  crowded. 

The  enemy  still  kept  possession  of  the  Kickapoo  town. 
I  determined  to  dislodge  them,  and  for  the  purpose  ordered 
Captains  King's  and  Logsdon's  companies  to  march  down 
the  river  below  the  town  and  cross,  under  the  conduct  of 


fit 


M 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


Major   Barbee.     Several  of  the  men  swam  the  river,  and 
others  passed  in  a  small  canoe.     This  movement  was  unob- 
served, and  my  men  had  taken  post  on  the  bank  before  they 
were  discovered  by  the  enemy,  who  immediately  abandoned 
the  vilhige.     About  this  time  word  was  brought  me  that  Colo- 
nel Hardin  was  encumbered  with  prisoners,  and  had  diacov- 
ered  a  stronger  village,  farther  to  my  left,  than  those  I  had 
observed,  which  he  was  proceeding  to  attack.     I  immediately 
detaclied  Captain  Brown,  with  his  company,  to  support  the 
colonel ;  but  the  distance  being  six  miles,  before  the  captain 
arrived  the  business  was  done,  and  Colonel  Hnrdin  joined  me 
little  before  sunset,  having  killed  six  warriors  and  taken  fifty- 
two  prisoners.     Captain  Bull,  the  warrior  who  discovered  me 
in  the  moraing,  had  gained   the  main  town  and  given  the 
alarm  a  short  time  before  me  ;  but  the  villages  to  the  left  were 
uninformed  of  my  approach,  and  had  no  retreat.     The  next 
morning  I  determined  to  detach  my  lieutenant  colonel  com- 
mandant with  five  hundred  men  to  destroy  the  important  town 
of  Kethlipecanunk,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Eel  River,  eighteen 
miles  from  my  camp,  and  on  the  west  side  of  Wabash.     But 
on  examination  I  discovered  my  men  and  horses  to  be  crippled 
and  worn  down  by  a  long,  laborious  march,  and  the  active 
exertions  of  the  preceding  day ;  that  three  hundred  and  sixty 
men  only  could  be  found  in  capacity  to  undertake  the  enter- 
prise, and  they  prepared  to  march  on  foot. 

Colonel  Wilkinson  marched  with  this  detachment  at  half 
past  five  in  the  evening,  and  returned  to  my  camp  the  next 
day  at  one  o'clock,  having  marched  thirty-six  miles  in  twelve 
hours,  and  destroyed  the  most  important  settlement  of  the 
enemy  in  that  quarter  of  the  federal  territory. 

The  following  is  Colonel  Wilkinson's  report  respecting  the 
enterpi'ise  : . — 

Sir,  —  The  detachment  under  my  command,  destined  to 
attack  the  village  Kethlipecanunk,  was  put  in  motion  at  half 


KXl-KDITION'S  OP  GENEUAL8  SCOTT  AND  WILKINSON.      97 


past  five  o'clock  lu.st  ev«)nin;r.    Knowing  that  an  enemy,  whose 
chief  dependenco  is   in  his  dexterity  as  a  marksman,  and 
alertness  in  coverwig  himself  behind  trees,  stumps,  and  other 
impediments  to  fair  sight,  would  not  hazard  an  action  in  the 
night,  I  determined  to  push  my  march  until  I  approached  the 
vicinity  of  the  villages  where  I  knew  the  country  to  be  cham- 
paign.    I  gained  my  point  without  a  halt  twenty  minutes  be- 
fore eleven  o'clock,  lay  upon  my  arms  until  four  o'clock,  and 
half  an  hour  after  assaulted  the  town  at  all  quarters.     The 
enemy  was  vigilant,  gave  way  on  my  approach,  and  in  canoes 
crossed  Eel  Creek,  which  washed  the  north-east  part  of  the 
town  ;  that  creek  was  not  fordable.    My  corps  dashed  forward 
with  the  impetuosity  becoming  volunteers,  and  were  saluted 
by  the  enemy  witli  a  brisk  fire  from  the  opposite  side  of  the 
creek.     Dauntless  they  rushed  on  to  the  water's  edge,  and, 
finding  the  river  impassable,  returned  a  volley  which  so  galled 
and  disconcerted  their  antagonists  that  they  threw  away  their 
fire  without  effect.     In  five  minutes  the  Indians  were  driven 
from  their  covering  and  fled  with  precipitation.     I  have  three 
men  slightly  wounded.     At  half  past  five  the  town  was  ia 
flames,  and  at  six  o'clock  I  commenced  my  retreat. 

I  am,  sir,  yours,  &c., 

James  "Wilkinson. 
Brigadier  General  Scott. 


»».'. 


liy-' 


Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Kethlipecanunk  were  French, 
and  lived  in  a  state  of  civilization.  Misunderstanding  the 
object  of  a  white  flag,  which  appeared  on  an  eminence  oppo- 
site to  me  in  the  afternoon  of  the  first,  I  liberated  an  aged 
squaw,  and  sent  with  her  a  message  to  the  savages,  that,  if  they 
would  come  in  and  surrender,  their  towns  should  be  spared 
and  they  should  receive  good  treatment.  It  was  afterwards 
found  that  this  white  flag  was  not  intended  as  a  signal  of  par- 
ley, but  was  placed  there  to  mark  the  spot  where  a  person  of 
distinction  among  the  Indians,  who  had  died  some  time  before. 
9 


1" ' 


s 


98 


INDIAN    XAIIUATIVKS. 


was  interred.  On  the  4th  I  determined  to  discharge  sixteen 
of  the  weakest  and  most  infirm  of  my  prisoners  with  a  talk 
to  the  Wabash  tribes,  a  copy  of  which  follows.  My  motives 
to  this  measure  were,  to  rid  the  army  of  a  heavy  encumbrance, 
to  gratify  the  impulses  of  humanity,  to  increase  the  panic  my 
operations  had  produced,  and,  by  distracting  the  council  of 
the  enemy,  to  favor  the  views  of  government. 

On  the  same  day,  after  leaving  burned  the  towns  and  ad- 
jacent villages  and  destroyed  the  growing  corn  and  pulse,  I 
began  my  march  for  the  rapids  of  Ohio,  where  I  arrived  the 
14th,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man  by  the  enemy,  and  five 
only  wounded,  having  killed  thirty-two,  chiefly  warriors  of 
size  and  figure,  and  taken  fifty-eight  prisoners. 


To  the  various  Tribes  of  the  Peankashaws  and  all  the  Nations 
of  Red  People  living  on  the  Waters  of  the  Wabash  River. 

The  sovereign  council  of  the  thirteen  United  States,  hav- 
ing long  patiently  borne  your  depredations  against  their  set- 
tlements on  this  side  of  the  great  mountains,  in  hopes  that 
you  would  see  your  error  and  correct  it,  by  entering  into 
bonds  of  amity  and  lasting  peace,  moved  by  compassioii, 
and  pitying  your  misguided  councils,  have  not  unfrequent- 
ly  addressed  you  on  this  subject,  but  without  effect.  At 
length  their  patience  is  exhausted,  and  they  have  stretched 
forth  the  arm  of  power  against  you.  Their  mighty  sons  and 
chief  warriors  have  at  length  taken  up  the  hatchet ;  they 
have  penetrated  far  into  your  country,  to  meet  your  warriors 
and  punish  them  for  their  transgressions.  But  you  fled  before 
them  and  decline  the  battle,  leaving  your  wives  and  children 
io  their  mercy.  They  have  destroyed  your  old  town,  Ouiat- 
tanau,  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  have  taken  many 
prisoners.     Resting  here  two  days,  to  give  you  time  to  collect 


EXPEDITIONS  OF  GENERALS  SCOTT  AND  WILKINSON.      99 


J 
t 


your  strength,  they  have  proceeded  to  your  town  of  Kethli- 
pecanunk;  but  you  again  fled  before  them;  and  that  great 
town  has  been  destroyed.     After  giving  you  this  evidence  of 
their  power  they  have  stopped  their  hands,  because  they  are 
as  merciful  as  strong ;  and  they  again  indulge  the  hope  that 
you  will  come  to  a  sense  of  your  true  interest,  and  determine 
to  make  a  lasting  peace  with  them  and  all  their  children  for- 
ever.     The  United  States  have  no  desire  to  destroy  the  red 
people,  although  they  have  the  power  to  do  it;  but  should 
you  decline  this  invitation  and  pursue  your  unprovoked  hos- 
tilities, their  strength  will  again  be  exerted  against  you,  your 
warriors  will  be  slaughtered,  your  wives  and  children  carried 
into  captivity  ;  and  you  may  be  assured  that  those  who  escape 
the  fury  of  our  mighty  chiefs  shall  find  no  resting-place  on 
this  side  the  great  lakes.     The  warriors  of  the  United  States 
wish  not  to  distress  or  destroy  women  and  children   or  old 
men ;  and  although  policy  obliges  them  to  retain  some  in  cap- 
tivity, yet  compassion  and  humanity  have  induced  them  to 
set  others  at  liberty,  who  will  deliver  you  this  talk.     Those 
who  are  carried  off  will  be  left  in  the  care  of  our  great  chief 
and  warrior  General  St.  Clair,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Miami 
and  opposite  to  the  Licking  River,  where  they  will  be  treated 
with  humanity  and  tenderness.     If  you  wish  to  recover  them, 
repair  to  that  place  by  the  first  day  of  July  next.     Determine 
with  true  hearts  to  bury  the  hatchet  and  smoke  the  pipe  of 
peace :  they  will  then  be  restored  to  you,  and  you  may  again 
set  down  in  security  at  your  old  towns,  and  live  in  peace'and 
happiness,  unmolested  by  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
who  will  become  your  friends  and  protectors,  and  will  be 
ready  to  furnish  you  with  all  the  necessaries  you  may  require. 
But  should  you  foolishly  persist  in  your  warfare,  the  sons  of 
war  will  be  let  loose  against  you,  and  the  hatchet  will  never 
be  buried  until  your  country  is  desolated  and  your  people 
humbled  to  the  dust. 

(Signed)  Chables  Scott,  Briff.  Gen. 


^  Rffl 


X\ 


/ 


\ 


i    BIBLIOTHECA 


%-.,^  Mav  3ns\'='..^-i^- 


^/ 


GENERAL  WILKINSON'S  EXPEDITION. 


GENERAL    WILKINSON   TO    GOVERNOR    ST.  CLAIR. 


"  Sir,  —  Having  carried  into  complete  effect  the  enterprise 
which  you  were  pleased  to  direct  against  L'Anguille,  and 
having  done  the  savages  every  other  damage  on  the  Wabash 
to  which  I  conceived  my  force  adequate,  I  embrace  the  first 
moment^s  recess  from  active  duty  to  detail  to  your  excellency 
the  operations  of  the  expedition  intrusted  to  my  command. 

I  left  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  "Washington  on  the  Ist 
instant  at  one  o'clock,  and,  agreeably  to  my  original  plan, 
feinted  boldly  at  the  Miami  villages  by  the  most  direct  course 
the  nature  of  the  ground  over  which  I  had  to  march  would 
permit.     I  persevered  in  this  plan  until  the  morning  of  the 
4th  instant,  and  thereby  avoided  the  hunting  ground  of  the 
enemy  and  the  paths  which  led  direct  from  White  River  to 
the  Wabash,  leaving  the  head  waters  of  the  first  to  my  left. 
I  then,  being  about  seventy  miles  advanced  of  Fort  Wash- 
ington, turned  north-west.    I  made  no  discovery  until  the  5th, 
about  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  when  I  crossed  three  much  fre- 
quented paths  within  two  miles  of  each  other,  and  all  bearing 
east  of  north.     My  guides  were  urgent  for  me  to  follow  these 
paths,  which  betrayed  their  ignorance  of  the  country,  and 
convinced  me  I  had  to  depend  on  my  own  judgment  only. 
In  the  afternoon  of  that  day  I  was  obliged  to  cross  a  deep 
bog,  which  injured  several  of  my  horses  exceedingly,  and  a 
few  miles  beyond  I  struck  a  path,  bearing  north  by  west^ 
marked  by  the  recent  footsteps  of  five  or  six  savages.     My 

(100) 


S'^'a^JfelJj^iMi'iflimiiliOT 


»h:nkiul  V'ilkinson's  kxi-kdithin. 


101 


i 


guides  renewed  their  application  to  me  to  follow  this  path; 
but  I  pursued  my  own  cour.^e.     1  hud  not  got  dear  of  my 
encampment  next  morning  before  my  advance  reported  an 
impassable  bog  in  my  front,  extending  several  miles  on  either 
hand  ;  and  the  guides  asserted  that  the  whole  country  to  the 
Wabash  was  cut  by  such  bogs,  and  that  it  would  be  impossi- 
ble for  me  to  proceed  unless  I  followed  the  Indian   paths, 
which  avoided  these  bogs,  or  led  through  them  at  places  where 
they  were  least  difficult.     Although  I  had  little  regard  to  this 
inibrmation,  as  delay  was  dangerous,  and  every  thing  depend- 
ed on  the  preservation  of  my  horses,  I  determined  to  return 
to  the  right  and  fall  into  the  path  I  had  passed  the  evening 
before,  which  varied  in  its  course  from  north  by  west  to  north- 
east.    The  country  had  now  become  pondy  in  every  direc- 
tion.    I  therefore  resolved  to  pursue  this  path  until  noon,  in 
the  hope  that  it  would  conduct  me  to  better  ground,  or  to 
eome  devious  trace,  which  might  lead  to  the  object  sought. 

At  seven  o'clock  I  crossed  an  east  branch  of  the  Calumet 
River  about  forty  yards  wide,  and  about  noon  my  advance 
guard  fired  on  a  small  party  of  warriors  and  took  a  prisoner ; 
the  rest  ran  off  to  the  eastward.     I  halted  about  a  mile  be- 
yond the  spot  where  this  affair  happened,  and,  on  examining 
the  prisoner,  found  him  to  be  a  Delaware,  living  near  the  site 
of  the  late  Miami   village,   which,  he  informed,  was  about 
thirty  miles  distant.     I  immediately  retrograded  four  miles, 
and  filed  off  by -the  right  over  some  rising  ground,  which  I 
had  observed  between  the  east  branch  of  the  Calumet  River 
and  a  creek  four  or  five  miles  in  advance  of  it,  taking  my  course 
north,  sixty  degrees  west.     This  measure  fortunately  extri- 
cated me  from  the  bogs  Jind  ponds,  and  soon  placed  me  on 
firm  ground.     Late  in  the  afternoon  I  crossed  one  path  run. 
ning  from  north  to  south,  and  shortly  after  fell  in  with  anoth- 
er varying  from  north-west  to  north.     I  pursued  this  about 
two  miles,  when  I  encamped  ;  but,  finding  it  still  inclining 
northward,  I  determined  to  abandon  it  in  the  morninf^.     I 
9*  " 


ll 

I 


./J 


102 


INDIAN    NAIIKATIVES. 


I 


l!i 

Id 


resinned  my  march  ..ii  the  Gtli  nt  four  o'clock.     Tho  Calumet 

beiiij,'  to  il.c  wcMtWiinl  of  me,  I  wns  fearful  I  shoul.l  strike 

tU"  W.iha>li  too  hifrl,  up,  and,  perhaps,  fall  in  with  the  email 

town,  which  yon  mentioned  to  me,  at  the  mouth  of  the  former 

river.      I   therefore  steered  a  due  west  course,  and  at  six 

o'clock  A.   M.   crossed   a   road    much    used   both    by  horse 

and  foot,  bcarinj?  due  north.     I  now  knew  that  I  was  near 

a  Shawanese  village,  goncrally  supposed  to  be  on  the  waters 

of  White   River,  but  actually  on  the  waters  of  the  Calumet, 

and  was  sensible  that  every  thing  depended  on  the  celerity 

and  silence  of  my  movenients,  as  my  real  object  had  become 

manifest.     T  therefore  pushed  my  march  vigorously,  leaving 

an  officer  and  twenty  men  in  ambush  to  watch  the  /oad,  in 

order  to  intercept  or  beat  off  any  party  of  the  enemy  which 

might  casually  be  passing  that  way,  and  thereby  prevent,  as 

long  as  possible,  the  discovery  of  my  real  intentions. 

At  eight  o'clock  I  crossed  Calumet  River,  now  eighty  yards 
wide,  and  running  down  north  north-west.     I  was  now  sensi- 
ble from  my  reckoning,  compared  with  my  own  observations 
during  the  late  expedition  under  General  Scott  and  the  in- 
formation received  from  your  excellency  and  others,  that  I 
could  not  be  very  far  from  L'Anguille.     The  party  left  at  the 
road  soon  fell  in  with  four  warriors  encamped  half  a  mile 
from  the  right  of  my  line  of  march,  Mlled  one,  and  drove  off 
the  others  to  the  northward.     My  situation  had  now  become 
extremely  critical ;  the  whole  country  to  the  north  being  in 
alarm,  which  made  me  greatly  anxious  to  continue  my  march 
during  the  night :  but  I  had  no  path  to  direct  me,  and  it  was 
impossible  for  me   to  keep  my  course,  or  for  horsemen  to 
march  through  a  thick,  swampy  country  in  utter  darkness.     I 
quitted  my  camp  on  the  7th  as  soon  as  I  could  see  my  way  ; 
crossed  one  path  at  three  miles'  distance,  bearing  north-east; 
and  at  seven  miles  fell  into  another  very  much  used,  bearino- 
north-west  by  north,  which  I  at  once  adopted  as  the  direct  route 
to  my  object,  and  pushed  forward  with  the  utmost  despatch.    I 


cJKNKRAL  Wilkinson's  kxpkdition. 


103 


halted  at  twelve  o'clock  to  refresh  the  horses  ond  examine 
the  men'H  arms  and  ammunition,  marched  a;,'ain  ot  half  past 
one,  and  at  fifteen  minutes  hefore  Hve  struck  the    Wabash 
at  one  and  a  half  leagues  above  the  mouth  of  Eel   River, 
being  the  very  spot  for  which  I  had  aimed  from  the  com- 
mencement of  my  march.    I  crossed  the  river,  and,  following 
the  path  a  north  by  east  course,  at  the  distance  of  two  and  a 
half  miles  my  reconnoitring  party  aimounced  Eel  River  in 
front  and  the  town  on  the  opposite  bank.     I  dismountetl,  ran 
forward,  and  examined  the  situation  of  tho  town  as  far  as 
was  practicable  without  exposing  myself;  but  the  whole  face 
of  the  country,  from  the  Wabash  to  the  margin  of  Eel  River, 
being  a  continued  thicket  of  brambles,  blockjacks,  weeds,  and 
shrubs  of  various  kinds,  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  get  a 
satisfactory  view  without  endangering  a  discovery.     I  imme- 
diately determined  to  post  two  companies  near  the  bank  of 
the  river  opposite  to  the  town  and  above  the  ground  I  then 
occupied,  to   make  a  detour  with  Major  Caldwell  and  the 
second  battalion  until  I  fell  into  the  Miami  trace,  and  by  that 
route  to  cross  the  river  above  and  gain  the  rear  of  the  town, 
and  to  leave  directions  with  Major  M'Dowell,  who  commanded 
the  first  battalion,  to  lie  perdu  until  I  commenced  tho  attack ; 
then  to  dash  through  the  river  with  his  corps  and   the  ad- 
vanced guard  and  assault  the  house  in  front  and  upon  the  left. 
In  the  moment  I  was  about  to  put  this  arrangement  into 
execution,  word  was  brought  me  that  the  enemy  had  taken 
the  alarm  and  were  flying,     I  instantly  ordered   a  gen(M-al 
charge,  which  was  obeyed  with  alacrity  :  the  men,  forcing  their 
way  over  every  obstacle,  plunged  throuqii  the  river  with  vast 
intrepidity.     The  enemy  was  unable  to  make  the  smallest  re- 
sistance.    Six  warriors,  and,  in  the  hurry  and  confusion  of 
the  charge,  two  squaws  and  a  child,  were  killed  ;  thirty-four 
prisoners  were  taken,  and  an  unfortunate  captive  released; 
with  the  loss  of  two  men  killed  and  one  wounded.     I  found 
this  town  scattered  along  Eel  River  for  full  three  miles,  bu 


h  m 


3 


i' 


I 


IH 


INDIAN   NARRATIVE?. 


ail  uneven,  shrubby,  oak  barren,  intersected  alternately  by 
bogs  almost  impassable  and  impervious  thickets  of  plum  and 
hazel.     Notwithstanding  these   difficulties,  if  I  may  credit 
the  report  of  the  prisoners,  very  few  who  were  in  town  es- 
caped :  expecting  a  second  expedition,  their  goods  were  gen- 
erally  packed  up  or  buried.     Sixty  warriors  had  crossed  the 
Wabash  to  watch  the  paths  leading  from  the  Ohio.     The 
head  chief,  with  all  the  prisoners  and  a  number  of  families, 
was  out  digging  a  root,  which  they  substitute  in  the  place  of 
the  potato :  and  about  one  hour  before  my  arrival    all  the 
Trarriors  except  eight  had  mounted  their  horses  and  rode  up 
the  river  to  a  French  store  to  purchase  ammunition.     This 
ammunition  had  arrived  from  the  Miami  viUase  that  very 
day,  and  the  squaws  informed  me  was  stored  about  two  miles 
from  town.    I  detached  Major  Caldwell  in  quest  of  it ;  but  he 
failed  to  make  any  discovery,  although  he  scoured  the  coun- 
try  for  seven  or  eight  miles  up  the  river.     I  encamped  in  the 
town  thut  night,  and  the   next  mornir-  I  cut  up  the  corn 
scarcely  in  the  milk,  burned  the  cabins,  mounted  my  young 
warriors,  squaws,  and  children  in  the  best  manner  in  ray  pow- 
er, and,  leaving  two  infirm  squaws  and  d  child  with  a  short 
talk,  (which  will  be  found  annexed,)  I  commenced  my  march 
for  the  Kickapoo  town  in  the  prairie.     I  felt  my  prisoners  a 
vast  encumbrance  ;  but  I  was  not  in  force  to  justify  a  detach- 
ment, having  barely  five  hundred  and  twenty-thrse  rank  and 
file,  and  being  then  in  the  bosom  of  the  Ouiattanau  country, 
one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  reproved  from  succor,  and  not 
more  than  one  and  a  half  days'  forced  march  from  the  Patta- 
wamees,  Shawanese,  and  Delawares. 

Not  being  able  to  discover  any  path  in  the  direct  course  to 
the  Kickapoo  town,  1  marched  by  the  road  leading  to  Tippe- 
canoe, in  the  hope  of  findincj  some  diverting  trace  which 
might  favor  my  design.  I  encamped  that  evening  about  six 
miles  from  Kenapacomaque,  the  Indian  name  for  the  town  I 
had  destroyed,  and  marched  the  next  morning  at  four  o'clock, 


(JENEHAL    AVILKINSON's    EXPEDITION. 


105 


My  coui-rie  continued  west  till  about  nine  o'clock,  when  I 
turned  to  the  north-west  on  a  small  hunting  path,  and  at  a 
short  distance  launched  into  the  boundless  prairies  of  the 
west,  with  the  intention  to  pursue  that  course  until  I  should 
strike  a  road  which  leads  from  the  Pattawamees  of  Lake 
Michigan  immediately  to  the  town  I  sought.  With  this  view 
I  pushed  forward  th'  ough  bog  after  bog,  to  the  saddle  skirts, 
in  mud  and  water,  and  after  persevering  for  eight  hours  I 
found  myself  environed  on  all  sides  with  moi'asses  which  for- 
bade my  advancing,  and  at  the  same  time  rendered  it  difficult 
for  me  to  extricate  my  little  army.  The  way  by  which  we 
had  entered  was  so  much  beat  and  softened  by  the  horses  that 
it  was  almost  impossible  to  return  by  that  route,  and  my  guides 
pronounced  the  inorass  in  front  impassable.  A  chain  of  thin 
groves  extending  in  the  direction  to  the  Wabash  at  this  time 
presented  to  my  left ;  it  was  necessary  I  should  gain  these 
groves,  and  for  this  purpose  I  dismounted,  went  forward,  and, 
leading  my  horse  through  a  bog  to  the  armpits  in  mud  and 
water,  with  difficulty  and  fatigue  I  accomplished  my  object, 
and,  changing  my  course  to  south  by  west,  regained  the  Tip- 
pecanoe road  at  five  o'clock,  and  encamped  on  it  at  seven 
o'clock,  after  a  march  of  thirty  miles,  which  broke  down  sev- 
eral of  my  hordes. 

I  am  the  more  minute  in  detailing  the  occurrences  of  this 
d-^y,  jBcause  they  produced  the  most  unfavorable  effect.  I 
a;  in  moiion  a*  four  next  morning ;  and  at  eight  o'clock  my 
aavanced  guard  made  some  discoveries,  which  induced  me  to 
believe  we  were  near  an  Indian  village.  I  immediately 
pushed  that  body  forward  in  a  trot,  and  followed  with  Major 
Caldwell  and  the  second  battalion,  leaving  Major  M'Dowell 
to  take  charge  of  the  prisoners.  I  reached  Tippecanoe  at 
twelve  o'clock,  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  enemy,  who 
watched  my  motions  and  abandoned  the  place  that  morning. 
After  the  destruction  of  this  town  in  June  last,  the  enemy  had 
returned  and  cultivated  their  corn  and  pulse,  which  I  found 


m 

til 


m 


:    i 


106 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


in  high  perfection  and  in  much  greater  quantity  than  at 
L'Anguille.  To  refresh  my  horses  and  give  time  to  cut  down 
the  corn,  I  determined  to  halt  until  the  next  morning,  and  then 
resume  my  raarcli  to  the  Kickapoo  town  in  the  prairie  by  the 
road  which  leads  from  Ouiattanau  to  that  place.  In  the 
course  of  the  day  I  had  discovered  some  raurmurings  and 
discontent  among  the  men,  which  I  found,  on  inquiry,  to  pro- 
ceed from  their  reluctance  to  advance  into  the  enemy's  coun- 
try. This  induced  me  to  call  for  a  state  of  the  horses  and 
provisions,  when  to  my  great  mortification  two  hundred  and 
seventy  horses  were  returned  lame  and  tired,  with  barely  five 
days'  provision  for  the  men. 

Under  these  circumstances  I  was  compelled  to  abandon  my 
designs  upon  the  Kickapoos  of  the  prairie ;  and,  with  a  de^ee 
of  anguish  not  to  be  comprehended  but  by  those  who  have 
experienced  similar  disappointments,  I  marched  forward  to  a 
town  of  the  same  nation,  situate  about  three  leagues  west  of 
Ouiattanau.  As  I  advanced  to  the  town  the  enemy  made 
some  show  of  fighting  me,  but  vanished  at  my  approach.  I 
destroyed  this  town,  consisting  of  thirty  houses,  with  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  corn  in  the  milk  ;  and  the  same  day  I 
moved  on  to  Ouiattanau,  where  I  forded  the  Wabash,  and 
proceeded  to  the  site  of  the  villages  on  the  margin  of  the 
prairie,  where  I  encamped  at  seven  o'clock.  At  this  town 
and  the  villages  destroyed  by  General  Scott  in  June  we  found 
the  corn  had  been  replanted  and  was  now  in  high  cnltivation  ; 
several  fields  being  well  ploughed,  all  which  we  destroyed. 
On  the  12th  I  resumed  my  march,  and,  falling  into  General 
Scott's  return  trace,  I  arrived  without  material  accident  at  the 
rapids  of  the  Ohio  on  the  21st  instant,  after  a  march,  by  accu- 
rate computation,  of  four  hundred  and  fifty-one  miles  from 
Fort  Washington. 

The  services  which  I  have  been  able  to  render  fall  short 
of  my  wishes,  my  intention,  and  expectation.  But,  sir,  when 
you  reflect  on   the  causes  wiiich   checked  my  career  and 


GENERAL    WILKINSDN's   EXPEDITION. 


107 


blasted  my  designs,  I  flatter  myself  you  will  believe  every 
thing  has  been  done  which  could  be  done  in  my  circumstances. 
I  have  destroyed  the  chief  town  of  the  Ouiattanau  nation, 
and  made  prisoners  the  sons  and  sisters  of  the  king.  I  have 
burned  a  respectable  Kickapoo  village,  and  cut  down  at  least 
four  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  corn  chiefly  in  the  milk. 
The  Ouiattanaus  left  without  horses,  home,  or  prgyision,  must 
cease  to  war,  and  will  And  active  employ  to  subsist  their 
squaws  and  children  during  the  impending  winter. 

Should  these  services  secure  to  the  country  which  I  imme- 
diately represented,  and  the  corps  which  I  had  the  honor  to 
command,  the  favorable  consideration  of  government,  I  shall 
infer  the  approbation  of  my  own  conduct,  which,  added  to  a 
consciousness  of  having  done  my  duty,  will  constitute  the  rich- 
est reward  I  can  enjoy. 

With  the  most  perfect  respect,  I  have  the  honor  to  be  your 
excellency's  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

James  Wilkinson. 
Governor  St.  Clair. 


l1 


h 


) 


I 


A  Talk  from  Colonel  Wilkinson  to  the  Indian  Nations  living 
on  the  River  Wabash. 

The  arms  of  the  United  States  are  again  exerted  against 
you,  and  again  your  towns  are  in  flames,  and  your  wives  and 
children  made  captives.  Again  you  are  cautioned  to  listen  to 
the  voice  of  reason,  to  sue  for  peace,  and  submit  to  the  pro- 
tection  of  the  United  States,  who  are  willing  to  become  your 
friends  and  fathers  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  are  determined  to 
punish  you  for  every  injury  you  may  offer  to  their  children. 
Regard  not  those  evil  counsellors  who,  to  secure  to  them- 
selves the  benefits  of  your  trade,  advise  you  to  measures 
which  involve  you,  your  women,  and  children  in  trouble  and 
distress.     Tiie  United  States  wish  to  give  you  peace,  because 


\   'f 


M 


108 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


it  is  good  in  the  eyes  of  the  Great  Spirit  that  all  his  children 
should  unite  and  live  like  brothers  ;  but  if  you  foolishly  pre- 
fer war,  their  warriors  are  ready  to  meet  you  in  battle,  and 
will  not  be  the  first  to  lay  down  the  hatchet.  You  may  find 
your  squaws  and  your  children  under  the  protection  of  our 
great  chief  and  warrior  General  St.  Clair,  at  Fort  Wash- 
ington ;  to  him  you  will  make  all  applications  for  an  exchange 
of  prisoners  or  for  peace. 

James  Wilkinson. 


f  >^AI 


1  children 
:shly  pre- 
attle,  and 
may  find 
n  of  our 
rt  Wash- 
jxchange 

[NSON. 


if!f 


DEFEAT  OF   GENERAL   ST.   CLAIR  BY  THE 
INDIANS,  1791. 

GENERAL    ST.    CLAIR   TO   THE   SECRETARY    OF    WAR, 


FoBT  Washington,  November  9,  1791. 

Sir,  —  Yesterday  afternoon  the  remains  of  the  army  under 
my  command  got  back  to  this  place ;  and  I  have  now  the  pain- 
ful task  to  give  an  account  of  as  warm  and  as  unfortunate  an 
action  as  almost  any  that  has  been  fought,  in  which  every 
corps  was  engaged  and  worsted  except  the  first  regiment,  that 
had  been  detached  upon  a  service  I  had  the  honor  to  inform 
you  of  in  my  last  despatch,  and  had  not  joined  me. 

On  the  3d  instant  the  army  had  reached  a  creek  about 
twelve  yards  wide,  running  to  the  southward  of  west,  which  I 
believe  to  have  been  the  River  St.  Mary,  that  empties  into 
the  Miami  of  the  lake,  arrived  at  the  village  about  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  having  marched  near  nine  miles,  and  wera 
immediately  encamped  upon  a  very  commanding  piece  of 
ground  in  two  lines,  having  the  above-mentioned  creek  in 
front.  The  right  wing,  composed  of  Butler's,  Clarke's,  and 
Patterson's  battalions,  commanded  by  Major  General  Butler, 
formed  the  first  line ;  and  the  left  wing,  consisting  of  Bedin- 
ger's  and  Gaither's  battalions  and  the  second  regiment,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Drake,  formed  the  second  line,  with  an 
interval  between  them  of  aboui  seventy  yards,  which  was  all 
the  ground  would  allow. 

The  right  flank  was  pretty  vvell  secured  by  the  creek,  a 
10  ('«") 


««s 


) 


110 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


f^ 


Steep  bank,  and  Faulkener's  corps  :  some  of  the  cavalry  and 
their  pickets  covered  the  left  flank.     The  militia  were  thrown 
over  the  creek,  and  advanced  about  one  quarter  of  a  mile,  and 
encamped  u.  the  same  order.     There  were  a  few  Indians  who 
appeared  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  but  fled  with  the 
utmost  precipitation  on  the  advance  of  the  militia.     At  this 
place,  which  I  judged  to  be  about  fifteen  miles  from  the  Miami 
village,  I  had  determined  to  throw  up  a  slight  work,  the  plan 
of  which  was  concerted  that  evening  with  Major  Ferguson, 
wherein  to  have  deposited  the  men's  knapsacks  And  every 
thing  else  that  was  not  of  absolute  necessity,  and  to  have 
moved  oh  to  attack  the  enemy  as  soon  as  the  first  regiment 
was  com6  up.     But  they  did  not  permit  me  to  execute  either ; 
fojp  on  thb  4tb,  about  half  an  hour  before  sunrise,  and  when 
the  men  had  been  just  dismissed  from  the  parade,  —  for  it  was 
a  (Constant  practice  to  have  them  all  under  arms  a  consider- 
able time  beforiB  light,  —  an  attack  was  made  upon  the  militia. 
ThoSfe  gavfe  way  in  a  very  little  time,  and  rushed  into  camp 
through  Major  Butler's  battalion,  which,  together  with  part 
of  Clarke's,  they  threw  into  considerable  disorder,  and  which, 
notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  both  these  officers,  was  never 
Altogether  remedied :  the  Indians  followed  close  at  their  heels. 
The  fire,  however,  of  the  front  line  checked  them ;  but  almost 
instantaneously  a  very  heavy  attack  began  upon  that  line, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  it  was  extended  to  the  second  likewise. 
The  great  weight  of  it  was  directed  against  the  centre  of 
each,  where  the  artillery  was  placed,  and  from  which  the  men 
were  repeatedly  driven  with  great  slaughter.      Finding  no 
great  effect  from  the  fire,  and  confusion  beginning  to  spread 
from  the  great  number  of  men  who  wer.)  fallen  in  all  quar- 
tiers,  it  became  necessary  to  try  what  could  be  done  by  the 
bayonet. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Drake  was  accordingly  ordered  to  make 
k  charge  'vvith  a  part  of  the  second  line  and  to  turn  the  left 


P 


DEFEAT   OP   GENERAL    ST.   CLAIK. 


m 


flank  of  the  enemy.  This  was  executed  with  great  spirit. 
The  Indians  instantly  gave  way,  and  were  driven  back  three 
or  four  hundred  yards  ;  but,  for  want  of  a  sufficient  number 
of  riflemen  to  pursue  tliis  advantage,  they  soon  returned,  and 
the  troops  were  obliged  to  give  back  in  their  turn.  At  this 
moment  they  had  entered  our  camp  by  the  left  flank,  having 
pursued  back  the  troops  that  were  posted  there. 

Another  charge  was  made  here  by  the  second  regiment, 
Butler's  and  Clarke's  battalions,  with  equal  effect ;  and  it  was 
repeated  several  times,  and  always  with  success.  But  in  all 
of  them  many  men  were  lost,  and  particularly  the  officers, 
which,  with  some  raw  troops,  was  a  loss  altogether  irremedi- 
able. In  that  I  just  spoke  of,  made  by  the  second  regiment 
and  Butler's  battalion,  M^jor  Butler  was  dangerously  wounded, 
and  every  officer  of  the  second  regiment  fell  except  three, 
one  of  which.  Captain  Greaton,  was  shot  through  the  body. 

Our  artillery  being  now  silenced,  and  all  the  officers  killed 
except  Captain  Ford,  who  was  badly  wounded,  —  more  than 
half  of  the  army  fallen,  being  cut  off  from  the  road,  —  it  be- 
came necessary  to  attempt  the  regaining  it,  and  to  make  a 
retreat,  if  possible.  To  this  purpose  the  remains  of  the  army 
were  formed,  as  well  as  circumstances  would  admit,  towards 
the  right  of  the  encampment ;  from  which,  by  the  way  of  the 
second  line,  another  charge  was  made  upon  the  enemy,  as  if 
with  the  design  to  turn  their  right  flank,  but,  in  fact,  to  gain 
the  road.  This  was  effected  ;  and  as  soon  as  it  was  open  the 
militia  took  along  it,  followed  by  the  troops.  Major  Clarke  with 
his  battalion  covering  the  rear. 

The  retreat  in  those  circumstances  was,  you  may  be  sure, 
a  precipitate  one  ;  it  was,  in  fact,  a  flight.  The  camp  and 
the  artillery  were  abandoned  ;  but  that  was  unavoidable,  for 
not  a  horse  was  left  alive  to  have  drawn  it  off  had  it  other- 
wise been  practicable.  But  the  most  disgraceful  part  of  the 
business  is,  that  the  greatest  part  of  the  men  threw  away 


A 


is 


^ 

M 

1 

J^^HH 

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<v 

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"^k 

.^^^H 

/'W 

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spar 


118 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


r 


their  arms  and  accoutrements,  even  after  the  pursuit,  which 
continued  about  four  miles,  had  ceased. 

I  found  the  road  strewed  with  them  for  many  miles,  but 
was  not  able  to  remedy  it ;  for,  having  had  all  my  horses  killed, 
and  being  mounted  upon  one  that  could  not  be  pricked  out  of 
a  walk,  I  could  not  get  forward  myself;  and  the  orders  I  sent 
forward,  either  to  halt  the  front  or  prevent  the  men  from 
parting  with  their  arms,  were  unattended  to. 

The  route  continued  quite  to  Fort  Jefferson,  twenty -.nine 
miles,  which  was  reached  a  little  after  sunsetting.  The  action 
began  about  half  an  hour  before  sunrise,  and  the  retreat  was 
attempted  at  half  an  hour  after  nine  o'clock. 

I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  get  returns  of  the  killed  and 
wounded.  But  Major  General  Butler,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Oldham,  of  the  militia.  Major  Ferguson,  Major  Hart,  and 
Major  Clarke  are  among  the  former. 

I  have  now,  sir,  finished  my  melancholy  tale  —  a  tale  that 
will  be  felt,  sensibly  felt,  by  every  one  that  has  sympathy  for 
private  distress  or  for  public  misfortune.  I  have  nothing, 
sir,  to  say  to  the  charge  of  the  troops  but  their  want  of  dis- 
cipline, which,  from  the  short  time  they  had  been  in  service, 
it  was  impossible  they  should  have  acquired,  and  which  ren- 
dered it  very  difficult,  when  they  were  thrown  into  confusion, 
to  reduce  them  again  to  order ;  and  is  one  reason  why  the 
loss  has  fallen  so  heavy  upon  the  officers,  who  did  every  thing 
in  their  power  to  effect  it.  Neither  were  my  own  exertions 
wanting ;  but  worn  down  with  illness,  and  suffisring  under  a 
painful  disease,  unable  either  to  mount  or  dismount  a  horse 
without  assistance,  they  were  not  so  great  as  they  otherwise 
would,  or  perhaps  ought  to  have  beeii. 

We  were  overpowered  by  numbers.  But  it  is  no  more 
than  justice  to  observe,  that,  though  composed  of  so  many 
different  species  of  troops,  the  utmost  harmony  prevailed 
through  the  whole  army  during  the  campaign. 


D£F£i.T  OF  OKNERAL  ST.  CLAIR. 


118 


At  Fprt  Jefferson  I  found  the  first  regiment,  which  had 
retunied  from  the  service  they  had  been  sent  upon  with- 
out either  overtaking  the  deserters  or  meeting  the  convoy 
of  provisions.  I  am  not  certain,  sir,  whether  I  ought  to  con- 
sider the  absence  of  this  regiment  from  the  field  of  action  as 
fortunate  or  otherwise.  I  incline  to  think  it  was  fortunate  ; 
for  I  very  much  doubt  whether,  had  it  been  in  the  action,  the 
fortune  of  the  day  had  been  turned ;  and  if  it  had  not,  the 
triumph  of  the  enemy  would  have  been  more  complete,  and 
the  country  would  have  been  destitute  of  every  means  of 
defence. 

Taking  a  view  of  the  situation  of  our  broken  troops  at 
Fort  Jefferson,  and  that  there  were  no  provisions  in  the  fort,  I 
called  on  the  field  officers  for  their  advice  what  would  be 
proper  further  to  be  done ;  and  it  was  their  unanimous  opin- 
ion that  the  addition  of  the  first  regiment,  unbroken  as  it  was, 
did  not  put  the  army  on  so  respectable  a  footing  as  it  was  in 
the  morning,  because  a  great  part  of  it  was  now  unarmed ; 
that  it  had  been  found  unequal  to  the  enemy,  and  should  they 
come  on,  whiqh  was  probable,  would  be  found  so  again; 
that  the  troops  could  not  be  thrown  into  the  fort,  both  be- 
cause it  was  too  small  and  that  there  was  no  provision  in  it ; 
that  provisions  were  known  to  be  upon  the  road  at  the 
distance  of  one,  or  at  most  two,  marches ;  that  therefore  it 
would  be  proper  to  move  without  loss  of  time  to  meet  the 
provisions,  when  the  men  might  have  the  sooner  an  opportu- 
nity of  some  refreshment ;  and  that  a  proper  detachment  might 
be  sent  back  with  it,  to  have  it  safely  deposited  in  the  fort. 

This  advice  was  accepted,  and  the  army  was  put  in  motion 
again  at  ten  o'clock,  and  marched  all  night,  and  the  succeed- 
ing day  met  with  a  quantity  of  flour.  Part  of  it  was  distributed 
immediately,  part  taken  back  to  supply  the  army  on  the  march 
to  Fort  Hamilton,  and  the  remainder,  about  fifty  horseloads, 
sent  forward  to  Fort  Jefferson. 

I  have  said,  sir,  in  the  former  part  of  mv  communication, 
10* 


ft- 


'^^■*mi9c^r" 


r 


114 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


that  we  were  overpowered  by  numbers ;  of  that,  however,  I 
have  no  other  evidence  but  the  weight  of  the  fire,  which  was 
always  a  most  deadly  one,  and  generally  delivered  from  the 
ground ;  few  of  the  enemy  showing  themselves  on  foot,  except 
when  they  were  charged,  and  that  in  a  few  minutes  our  whole 
camp,  which  extended  above  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in 
length,  was  entirely  surrounded  and  attacked  on  all  quarters. 

The  loss,  sir,  the  public  has  sustained  by  the  fall  of  so  many 
officers,  particularly  General  Butler  and  Major  Ferguson, 
cannot  be  too  much  regretted  ;  J)ut  it  is  a  circumstance  that 
will  alleviate  the  misfortune,  in  some  measure,  that  all  of 
them  fell  most  gallantly  doing  their  duty. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Arthur  St.  Clair. 

Honorable  secretary  of  war. 


The  defeat  of  General  St.  Clair  took  place  within  six  miles 
of  the  Miami  village.  The  loss  on  this  occasion  was  about 
six  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  (said  to  be  nearly  equal  to 
Braddock's  defeat,)  with  seven  pieces  of  artillery  and  all  the 
stores.  General  St.  Clair  had  about  twelve  hundred  men  } 
had  reason  to  expect  an  attack ;  and  kept  his  men  under  arms 
all  night,  drawn  up  in  a  square.  The  attack  commenced  about 
dawn  of  day  on  all  the  lines,  but  principally  on  the  rear  lines, 
which  were  composed  of  the  militia.  The  Indians  gave  one 
fire  and  rushed  on,  tomahawk  in  hand.  The  militia  gave  way 
to  the  centre  ;  and  before  the  artillery  could  be  brought  into 
action  the  matrosses  were  all  killed,  and  it  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  It  was  retaken  ;  but  was  useless,  for  want  of 
men  to  manage  the  pieces. 

The  action  was  continued  obstinately  until  nine  o'clock, 
when  the  troops  gave  way.  St.  Clair  rallied  his  men,  and 
brought  them  off  in  tolerable  order,  with  most  of  the  wounded, 


DEFKAT   OF   GENERAL    8T.  CLAIU. 


115 


to  Fort  Jefferson,  thirty  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  action.     The 
enemy  pursued  five  miles. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  return  of  the  officers  killed 
and  wounded  in  the  engagement :  — * 

Killed.  —  1  major  general,  1  lieutenant  colonel,  4  majors, 
11  captains,  10  lieutenants,  9  ensigns,  1  surgeon;  total,  37. 

Wounded, —  2  lieutenant  colonels,  1  major,  11  captains, 
6  lieutenants,  6  ensigns,  1  surgeon  ;   total,  27. 

Beside  the  above  there  were  about  five  hundred  and  fifty 
privates  killed,  and  many  more  wounded.  Few  officers  of 
distinction  escaped  except  General  St.  Clair,  who  had  many 
narrow  escapes ;  eight  balls  passed  through  his  clothes.  The 
attack  was  conducted  with  astonishing  intrepidity  on  the  part 
of  t'le  Indians.  In  a  few  moments  the  general's  tent  was 
surrounded  :  however,  he  was  rescued  by  a  pa:ty  of  regular 
soldiers,  who  repelled  the  enemy  with  fixed  bayonets.  There 
was  a  party  of  the  Chickasaw  nation  on  their  way  Jo  join 
General  St.  Clair,  but  did  not  arrive  in  season.  There  was 
but  one  fellow  only  of  that  nation  in  the  action,  who  killed 
and  scalped  eleven  of  the  enemy  with  his  own  hands,  and 
engaging  with  the  twelfth  he  fell,  greatly  lamented  by  the 
Americans. 

Major  General  Butler  was  wounded  and  carried  to  a  con- 
venient place  to  have  his  wounds  dressed ;  but  an  Indian,  hav- 
ing discovered  the  place  to  which  he  was  conveyed,  broke 
through  the  troops  who  att'^nded  him,  and  tomahawked  and 
scalped  the  former  before  he  was  killed  by  the  troops. 

Agreeably  to  the  statement  of  the  Indians,  they  killed  six 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  American  troops,  and  took  seven 
pieces  of  cannon,  two  hundred  oxen,  and  a  great  number  of 
horses,  but  no  prisoners ;  and  that  their  loss  was  only  fifty- 
six  warriors  killed.  They  stated  that  they  were  four  thousand 
strong,  and  were  commanded  by  one  of  the  Missasago  In- 


"^...WWIMB." 


I 


116 


INDIAN    NAUKATIVICH. 


dians,  who  had  been  in  the  British  sorvicu  in  thu  lutu  war ; 
that  he  planned  and  conducted  the  attack,  which  was  even 
contrary  to  the  opinion  of  a  nuyority  of  the  chiefs ;  and  that, 
after  tlic  Americans  began  their  retreat,  he  told  the  Indians 
they  had  killed  enough,  and  that  it  was  proper  to  give  over 
the  pursuit,  and  return  and  ei\joy  the  booty  they  had  taken. 
He  was  six  feet  in  height,  about  forty-five  years  of  age,  of  a 
very  sour  and  morose  countenance,  and  apparently  very 
crafty  and  subtle.  liis  dress  was  Indian  hoi^e  and  moccasons, 
a  blue  petticoat  that  came  half  way  down  his  thighs,  a  Euro* 
pean  waistcoat  and  surtout :  his  head  vas  bound  with  an  Indian 
cap,  that  hung  half  way  down  his  back,  and  was  almost  entirely 
filled  with  plated  silver  broaches  to  the  number  of  more  than 
two  hundred.  He  had  two  earrings  to  each  ear ;  the  upper 
part  of  each  was  formed  of  three  silver  medals  about  the 
size  of  a  dollar ;  the  lower  part  was  formed  of  quarter  dol- 
lars, and  fell  more  than  twelve  inches  from  his  ear ;  one 
from  each  ear  over  his  breast,  the  other  over  his  back.  He 
had  three  very  large  nose  jewels  of  silver  that  were  curiously 
painted. 

The  party  of  friendly  Chicknsaws,  who  were  on  their  way 
to  join  the  American  troops,  arrived  at  Fort  Jefferson  two 
days  after  the  bloody  action.  They  were  commanded  by 
Piomingo,  or  the  Mountain  Leader.  On  their  way  they  dis- 
covered that  the  troops  had  been  defeated,  but  saw  but  one 
of  the  enemy,  who,  mistaking  Pioraingo's  party  for  some  of 
his  own  comrades,  made  up  to  them.  He  perceiv- 1"?  hh  mis- 
take, but  too  late  to  retreat.  He  was  accosted  bv  I'lfM/iinTo 
with  "Rascal,  you  have  been  killing  white  me  '  >'Ie  i:n- 
deavored  to  exculpate  himself;  but  Piomingo  ordered  two  of 
his  warriors  to  expand  his  arms,  and  a  third,  an  old  man, 
("  for,"  says  Piomingo,  "  none  of  my  young  men  shall  dis- 
grace •fe''fit';elves  so  much  as  to  kill  a  wretch  like  thee,")  to 
Bhoct  Li'i^  tisrouf  5»  the  heart,^  which  was  accordingly  executed : 
tliey  sdVo'  varus  took  off  his  scalp. 


DKKKAT    OF    GKNEKAL    8T.  CLAIIC. 


117 


During  St.  Clair'fl  bloody  engag^pment  Adjutant  Burgpns 
received  two  wounds,  the  second  of  which  proved  mortal. 
After  tlie  receipt  of  the  first  lie  continued  to  tight  witlj  distin- 
guished gallantry  ;  the  second  unt'orturmt<'ly  stopped  his  prog- 
ress. Faint  with  the  loss  of  blood,  ho  fell :  a  woman,  who 
attended  him  and  was  particularly  attached  to  him,  raised  him 
up,  and,  while  supporting  him  in  her  arms,  received  a  ball  in 
her  breast,  which  put  an  immediate  end  to  her  existence. 


t  •• 


II  nil 


DEPREDATIONS   OF  THE   INDIANS   ON  THE 
FRONHERS  IN  1791,  1792,  AND  1793. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  X791,  as  two  men  and  three 
boys  were  fishing  on  Floyd's  fork  of  Salt  River,  they  were 
suddenly  attacked  hy  a  party  of  Indians,  who  killed  the  two 
men  and  made  prisoners  of  the  boys.  Soon  after  they  lib- 
erated one  of  the  lads,  first  presenting  him  with  a  tomahawk, 
which  they  desired  him  to  carry  to  his  friends  and  inform 
them  what  had  become  of  his  companions. 

About  the  20th  a  party  of  Indians  attacked  the  house  of  a 
Mr.  Chenoweth,  situated  near  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash :  they 
killed  and  scalped  two  of  his  children,  and  tomahawked  and 
scalped  his  wife,  whom  they  left  for  dead.  Mr.  C,  who  had 
his  arm  broken  by  the  fire  of  the  savages,  with  the  remainder 
of  the  family  made  his  escape.  A  sick  daughter,  who  was 
confined  to  her  chamber,  and  who,  during  the  bloody  affray, 
had  been  forgotten  by  her  father,  remained  ignorant  of  the 
horrid  massacre  until  the  succeeding  day ;  when,  no  one  of 
the  family  coming  to  her  assistance,  she  succeeded  in  crawling 
down  stairs,  where  she  was  inexpressibly  shocked  at  the  sight 
of  a  beloved  parent  stretched  upon  the  floor,  almost  lifeless, 
and  beside  of  whom  lay  the  mangled  bodies  of  her  dear 
brothers.  Fortunately  her  unhappy  father  returned  the 
succeeding  day  to  the  house,  and  conveyed  the  two  surviving 
members  of  his  family  to  the  house  of  a  friend,  where  they 
finally  recovered. 

On  the  24th  a  party  of  Indians  attacked  the  dwelling  house 

(118) 


DEPREDATIONS  OF  THE  INDIANS  ON  THE  FKONTIEUS.  119 

Merril,  who  was  first  alarmed  by  the   barking  of  his  dog 
hastened  to  the  door  to  discover  the  cause,  on  opening  of 
which  he  received  the  fire  of  the  Indians,  which  broke  his 
right  leg  and  arm.     The  Indians  now  attempted  to  enter  the 
house,  but  were  prevented  by  the  doors  being  immediately 
closed  and  secured  by  Mrs.  Merril  and  her  daughter.     The 
Indians  succeeded  in  hewing  away  a  part  of  the  door,  through 
which  passage  one  of  them  attempted  to  enter  ;  but  the  heroic 
mother,  in  the  midst  of  her  screaming  children  and  groaning 
husband,  seized  &a  axe  and  gave  the  ruffian  a  fatal  blow- 
after  which  she  hauled  him  through  the  passage  into  the 
house.    The  others,  unconscious  of  the  fate  of  their  compan- 
ion,  supposing  that  they  had  now  nearly  succeeded  in  their 
object,  rushed  forward,  four  of  whom  Mrs.  Merril  in  like 
manner  despatched  before  the  others  discovered  their  mistake. 
The  remaining  Indians,  after  retiring  for  a  few  moments,  re-* 
turned  and  renewed  their  efforts  to  enter  the  house.   Despair^ 
mg  of  succeeding  at  the  door,  they  got  on  the  top  of  the  house 
and  attempted  to  descend  the  chimney;  to  prevent  which  Mr. 
Merril  directed  his  little  son  to  empty  upon  the  fire  the  con^ 
tents  of  a  feather  bed,  which  had  the  desired  effect,  as  the 
smoke  and  heat  caused  thereby  soon  brought  down  rather 
unexpectedly  two  of  the  enemy.     Mr.  Merril,  exerting  every 
faculty  at  this  critical  moment,  seized  a  billet  of  wood,  with 
which  he  soon  despatched  the  two  half-smothered  Indians ; 
while  in  the  mean  time  his  heroic  wife  was  busily  engaged  in 
defending  the  door  against  the  efforts  of  the  only  remaining 
one,  whom  she  so  severely  wounded  with  an  axe  that  he  was 
soon  glad  to  retire. 

A  prisoner,  who  escaped  from  the  enemy  soon  after  the 
transaction,  informed  that  the  wounded  savage  above  men- 
tioned was  the  only  one  that  escaped  of  the  party,  which  con- 
sisted of  eight ;  that  on  his  return,  being  asked  by  the  prison- 
er, "  What  news  ? "  he  answered,  «  Bad  news  for  poor  Indian ; 

me  lose  a  son,  me  lose  n.  hrnfhpr?  tho  enn<t^^  u .-i.,_  .i._ 

breach  clout,  and  fight  worse  than  tlie  Long  Knives." 


'ill 
ill 


%  '' 


•     -  i 


M 


120 


INDIAN    NAUUATIVKS. 


Copy  of  a  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Marietta  to  his  Friend 

in   Washinyton. 

Marietta,  March  4,  1793. 
About   eight  weeks   since   two  brothers,  by  the  name  of 
Johnson,  one  twelve  the  other  nine  yeius  old,  were  playing 
on  the  western  bank  of  8hort  Creek,  about  twelve  miles  from 
"Wheeling,  skipping  stones  in  the  water.     At  a  distance  they 
discovered  two  men,  who  appeared  to  be  settlers,  being  dressed 
with  coats  and  hats.     These  men,  to  amuse  and  deceive  the 
children,  as  they  even  showed,  engaged  in  the  same  sport, 
advancing  towards  the  boys,  till  by  degrees  they  got  so  near 
that  the  children  discovered  them  to  be  Indians ;  but  it  was 
then  too  late  to  make  their  escape.     Tlu;  Indians  seized  and 
carried  them  six  miles  into  the  woods,  where  they  made  a  fire 
and  took  up  their  lodgings  for  the  night:  their  rifles  and  tom- 
ahawks they  rested  against  a  tree,  and  then  laid  down,  each 
Indian  with  a  boy  on  his  arm.     The  children,  as  may  be  sup- 
posed, kept  awake.     The  oldest  began  to  move,  and,  finding 
his  Indian  sound  asleep,  by  degrees  disengaged  himself  and 
went  to  the  fire,  which  had  then  got  low,  and  stirred  it  up. 
The  Indian  not  waking,  he  whispered  to  his  brother,  who 
likewise  crept  away,  and  both  of  them  went  to  the  fire.     The 
oldest  boy  then  observed  to  his  brother,  "  I  think  we  can  kill 
these  Indians  and  get  away  from  them."  The  youngest  agreed 
in  the  proposal  of  attempting  it.     The  oldest  then  took  one 
of  the   rifles,  and  placed  the  muzzle,  which  he  rested  on  a 
small  stick  that  he  found  for  the  purpose,  close  to  the  head 
of  one  of  the  Indians,  and,  committing  the  execution  of  this 
part  of  the  business  to  his  brother,  ordered  him  to  pull  the 
trigger  at  the  moment  he  saw  him  strike  the  other  Indian 
with  one  of  the  tomahawks.     The  oldest  gave  the  signal ;  the 
youngest  pulled  trigger.     The  rifle  shot  away  the  lower  part 
of  the  Indian's  face  and  left  him  senseless.     He  then  told  his 


DEPREDATIONS  OP  THE  INDIANS  ON  THE  FRONTIERS.     121 

brother  to  lay  on,  for  he  hml  done  for  his;  after  which  he 
snatched  up  the  gun  and  ran.     The  boy  with  the  tomahawk 
gave  tiie  stroke  with  the  wrong  end  :   the  Indian  started  on 
his  seat :  the  boy  found  the  mistake,  and,  turning  the  toma- 
hawk in  his  hand,  gave  him  another  blow,  which  brought  him 
to  the  ground :  he  repeated  his  strokes  until  he  had  despatched 
him,  and  then  made  the  best  of  his  way  after  his  brother. 
When  the  boys  had  found  the  path  which  they  recollected  to 
have  travelled  before,  the  oldest  fixed  his  hat  on  a  bush,  as  a 
dnectory  to  find  the  scene  of  action  the  next  day.     The  tom- 
ahawked Indian  was  found  near  the  place  where  the  boys 
had  left  him.     The  other  was  not  there,  but  was  tracked  by 
his  blood,  and  although  so  weakened  by  his  wounds  that  he 
could  not  raise  his  rifle  to  fire  at  his  pursuers,  the  whites,  they 
suffered  him  to  escape:  but  it  is  supposed  he  must  have  died 
of  his  wounds.     These  two  Indians  were  sent  out  to  reconnoi- 
tre  the  best  place  for  an  attack,  which  was  to  have  been  made 
by  a  body  of  warriors  waiting  in  the  neighborhood. 
11 


^■•i  ii: 


i 


DEFEAT  OF  THE  INDIANS  BY  GENERAL  WAYNE, 
AUGUST  20,  1794. 

GENERAL    WAYNE   TO    THE   SECRETARY    OF   WAR. 


Sir,  —  It  is  with  infinite  pleasure  that  I  announce  to  you 
the  brilliant  success  of  the  federal  army  under  my  command, 
in  a  general  action  with  the  combined  force  of  the  hostile  In- 
dians, and  a  considerable  number  of  the  volunteers  and  militia 
of  Detroit,  on  the  20th  of  August,  on  the  banks  of  the  Miamis, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  British  post  and  garrison  at  the  foot  of 
the  Rapids. 

The  army  advanced  from  Fort  Washington  on  the  15th, 
and  arrived  at  Roach  de  Bout  on  the  18th;  and  the  19th  we 
were  employed  in  making  a  temporary  post  for  the  reception 
of  our  stores  and  baggage,  and  in  reconnoitring  the  position 
of  the  enemy,  whp  were  encamped  behind  a  thick  bushy  wood 
and  the  British  fort. 

At  eight  q'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  the  army  again 
advanced  in  columns  agreeably  to  the  standing  order  of  the 
march,  the  legion  on  the  right,  its  right  flank  covered  by  the 
Miamis  ;  one  brigade  of  mounted  volunteers  on  the  left, 
under  Brigadier  General  Todd,  and  the  other  in  the  rear, 
under  Brigadier  General  Barbee.  A  select  battalion  of 
mounted  volunteei*3  moved  in  front  of  the  legation,  com- 
manded by  Major  Price,  who  was  directed  to  keep  sufficiently 
advanced,  and  to  give  timely  notice  for  the  troops  to  form  in 
case  of  action,  it  being  yet  undetermined  whether  the  Indiana 
would  decide  for  peace  or  war. 

tlQ-2) 


l^AYNE, 


AR. 

!e  to  you 
;ommand, 
ostile  la- 
nd militia 
}  Miamis, 
le  foot  of 

the  15th, 
i  19th  we 
reception 
;  position 
ishy  wood 

'my  again 
er  of  the 
^d  by  the 
the  left, 
the  rear, 
talion  of 
ion,  cora- 
ufficiently 
)  form  in 
le  Indians 


DEFEAT    OP    THE    INDIANS    BY    GENERAL    WAYNE.        123 

After  advancing  about  five  miles.  Major  Price's  corps  re- 
ceived so  severe  a  fire  from  the  enemy,  \\\o  were  secreted  in 
the  woods  and  high  grass,  as  lo  compel  them  to  retreat. 

The  legion  was  immediately  formed  in  two  lines,  princi- 
pally in  a  close,  thick  wood,  which  extended  for  miles  on  our 
left  and  for  a  very  considerable  distance  in  front,  the  ground 
being  covered  with  old  fallen  timber,  probably  occasioned  by 
a  tornado,  which  rendered  it  impracticable  for  the  cavalry  to 
act  with  effect,  and  afforded  the  enemy  the  most  favorable 
covert  for  their  mode  of  warfare.     The  savages  were  formed 
in  three  lines,  within  supporting  distance  of  each  other,  and 
extending  for  near  two  miles  at  right  angles  with  the  river. 
I  soon  discovered,  from  the  weight  of  the  fire  and  extent  of 
their  lines,  that  the  enemy  were  in  full  force  in  front,  in  pos- 
session of  their  favorite  ground,  and  endeavoring  to  turn  our 
left  flank.     I  therefore  gave  orders  for  the  second  line  to  ad- 
vance to  support  the  first,  and  directed  Major  General  Scott 
to  gain  and  turn  the  right  flank  of  the  savages,  with  the  whole 
of  the  mounted  volunteers,  by  a  circuitous  route.    At  the 
same  time  I  ordered  the  front  line  to  advance  and  charge  with 
trailed  arms,  and  rouse  the  Indians  from  their  coverts  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  and,  when  up,  to  deliver  a  close  and 
well-directed  fire  on  their  backs,  followed  by  a  brisk  charge, 
so  as  not  to  give  them  time  to  load  again  or  to  form  their  lines. 
I  also  ordered  Captain  M.  Campbell,  who  commanded  the 
legionary  cavalry,  to  turn  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy  next  the 
river,  and  which  afforded  a  favorable  field  for  that  corps  to  act 
in.    All  those  orders  were  obeyed  with  spirit  and  promptitude ; 
but  such  was  the  impetqpsity  of  the  charge  by  the  first  line 
of  infantry  that  the  Indians  and  Canadian  mihtia  and  volun- 
teers were  driven  from  all  their  coverts,  in  so  short  a  time, 
that,  although  every  po:<.sible  exertion  was  used  by  the  officers 
of  the  second  line  of  the  legion,  and  by  Generals  Scott,  Wood, 
and  Barbee,  of  the  mounted  volunteers,  to  gain  their  proper 
positions,  but  part  of  each  could  get  up  in  season  to  participate 


ill! 


itl 


:ui 


II 


134 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


in  the  action ;  the  enemy  being  driven  in  the  course  of  one 
hour  more  than  two  miles  through  the  thick  woods  already 
mentioned  by  less  than  one  half  their  number. 

From  every  account  the  enemy  amounted  to  two  thousand 
combatants ;  the  troops  actually  engaged  against  them  were 
short  of  nine  hundred.  This  horde  of  savages,  with  their 
allies,  abandoned  themselves  to  flight  and  dispersed  with  ter- 
ror and  dismay,  leaving  our  victorious  army  in  full  and  quiet 
possession  of  the  field  of  battle,  which  terminated  under  the 
influence  of  the  guns  of  the  British  garrison. 

The  bravery  and  conduct  of  every  olficer  belonging  to  the 
army,  from  the  generals  down  to  the  ensigns,  merit  my  ap- 
probation. 

Lieutenant  Covington,  upon  whom  the  command  of  the 
cavalry  devolved,  Captain  Campbell  being  killed,  cut  down 
two  savages  with  his  own  hand,  and  Lieutenant  Webb  one,  in 
turning  the  enemy's  left  flank. 

The  wounds  received  by  Captains  Slough,  Prior,  Van  Ran- 
selaer,  and  Rawlins,  and  Lieutenants  M'Kenny  and  Smith, 
bear  honorable  testimony  of  their  bravery  and  conduct.  In 
fact,  every  officer  and  soldier  who  had  an  opportunity  to  come 
into  action  displayed  that  true  bravery  which  will  always 
insure  success.  And  here  permit  me  to  declare  that  I  have 
never  discovered  more  true  spirit  and  anxiety  for  action  than 
appeared  to  pervade  the  whole  of  the  mounted  volunteers ; 
and  I  am  well  persuaded,  that,  had  the  enemy  maintained 
their  favorite  ground  for  one  half  hour  longer,  they  would 
have  most  severely  felt  the  prowess  of  that  corps. 

But  whilsc  I  pay  this  just  tribute  tb  the  living,  I  must  not 
neglect  the  gallant  dead,  among  whom  we  have  to  lament  the 
early  death  of  those  worthy  and  brave  officers,  Captain  Camp- 
bell and  Lieutenant  Towles,  who  fell  in  the  first  charge. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  w.is  more  than  double  to  that  of  the 
federal  army.  The  woods  were  strewed  for  a  considerable 
distance  with  dead  bodies  of  Indians  and  their  white  auxiliaries, 


DEFEAT    OP    THE    INDIANS    BY    GENERAL    WATNE.        125 


I 


the  latter  armed  with  British  muskets  and  bayonets.  We 
remained  three  days  and  nights  on  the  banks  of  the  Miarais, 
in  front  of  the  field  of  battle,  during  which  time  all  the  houses 
and  cornfields  were  consumed  and  destroyed  for  a  consider- 
able distance  above  and  below  the  garrison,  among  which 
were  the  houses,  stores,  and  property  of  Colonel  M'Kee,  the 
British  Indian  agent  and  principal  stimulator  of  the  war  now 
existing  between  the  United  States  and  the  savages. 

The  army  returned  to  head  quarters  on  the  27th  by  easy 
marches,  laying  waste  the  villages  and  cornfields  for  about 
fifty  miles  on  each  side  of  the  Miarais.  It  is  not  improbable 
but  that  the  enemy  may  make  one  desperate  effort  against  the 
army,  as  it  is  said  a  reenforcement  was  hourly  expected  at 
Fort  Miamis  from  Niagara,  as  well  as  numerous  tribes  of  In- 
dians living  on  the  margins  and  islands  of  the  lakes.  This 
is  an  event  rather  to  be  wished  for  than  dreaded  whilst  the 
army  remains  in  force  ;  their  numbers  will  only  tend  to  con- 
fuse the  savages,  and  the  victory  will  be  tiie  more  complete 
and  decisive,  and  may  eventually  insure  a  permanent  and 
happy  peace. 

The  following  is  a  return  of  the  killed  and  wounded  and 
missing  of  the  federal  army  in  the  late  action,  to  wit ; 

Killed.  —  1  captain,  1  lieutenant,  3  sergeants,  28  privates; 
total,  33. 

Wounded.  —  4  captains,  2  lieutenants,  1  ensign,  4  sergeants, 
3  corporals,  2  musicians,  84  privates ;  total,  100. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  most  obedient  and  very  humble 
servant, 

Anthony  Wayne. 
To  the  secretary  of  war. 

The  following  circumstances,  which  took  place  previous  to 
and  during  General  Wayne's  engagement,  are  worthy  of 
record. 

11* 


r«u 


I  i 


126 


INDIAN   NARHATIVESi 


At  the  instant  Captnin  Campbell  was  attempting  to  turn 
the  left  Hank  of  the  enemy,  three  of  them  plunged  into  the 
river.  Two  friendly  negroes,  being  on  the  opposite  side  and 
observing  the  Indians  making  for  the  shore,  placed  them- 
selves on  the  bank  behind  a  log,  and,  as  soon  as  the  Indians 
approached  within  shot,  one  of  the  negroes  fired  and  killed 
one  of  the  Indians.  The  other  two  got  hold  of  him  to  drag 
him  out,  when  the  other  negro  fired  and  killed  another.  The 
remaining  Indian  got  hold  of  both  those  dead  to  pull  them 
ashore ;  when  the  negro  who  killed  the  first,  having  again  re- 
loaded, fired  and  killed  the  third,  and  they  all  floated  down 
the  river. 

Another  circumstance  is  also  related ;  viz.,  a  soldier,  soon 
after  the  conclusion  of  the  action,  proceeding  some  distance 
from  the  camp,  met  an  Indian.  They  attacked  each  other,  the 
soldier  with  his  bayonet  and  the  Indian  with  his  tomahawk. 
Some  of  the  soldiers  passing  by  that  way  two  days  after 
found  them  both  dead  —  the  soldier  with  his  bayonet  in  the 
body  of  the  Indian,  and  the  Indian  with  his  tomahawk  in  the 
soldier's  head. 

The  following  circumstance  took  place  previous  to  the 
action :  A  Mr.  "Wells,  who,  when  very  young,  was  taken  pris- 
oner by  the  Indians,  and  had  resided  several  years  among 
them,  had  made  his  escape,  and  was  employed  by  General 
Wayne  as  a  spy.  The  day  before  the  action  he  was  taken 
by  the  Indians,  who  determined  to  put  him  to  death.  Find- 
ing it  impossible  to  escape,  he  informed  them  that  General 
Wayne  had  not  five  hundred  men  under  his  command,  and 
did  not  expect  an  attack.  On  hearing  this,  the  Indians  at- 
tacked General  Wayne  with  a  confidence  inspired  by  their 
supposed  superiority  of  numbers,  and  were  repulsed  as  be- 
fore mentioned.  After  the  action,  Major  Campbell,  in  whose 
custody  the  Indians  had  left  Wells,  inquired  his  motives  for 
deceiving  them.  He  answered,  "  For  the  good  of  my  country." 
For  this  heroic  action  he  was  unfeelingly  delivered  to  the 


1 
-I 


DEFEAT   OF   THE   INDIANS    BY    GENERAL    WAYNE.       127 


Indians,  in  whose  hands  it  is  supposed  he  experienced  every 
torture  that  savage  barbarity  could  invent  or  inflict.  The 
circumstances  respecting  Mr.  Wells  were  related  by  a  British 
drunr.  ner  who  deserted  from  the  fort  to  General  Wayne. 

A  council  of  Indians  was  held  a  few  days  after  their  defeat 
by  General  Wayne,  in  which  British  agents  endeavored  to 
persuade  them  to  risk  another  action ;  but  this  they  refused 
to  do,  expressing  a  willingness  to  bury  the  bloody  hatchet  and 
return  to  their  homes.  Their  loss  they  declared  to  be  two 
hundred,  and  that  their  whole  force  at  the  commencement  of 
the  action  amounted  to  fifteen  thousand  Indians  and  eighty 
Canadians.  The  body  of  the  collector  of  Niagara  was  found 
among  the  slain. 


1 


A  NARRATIVE  OF  THE   CAPTIVITY  OF 
MRS.  JOHNSON. 


Notices  of  the  Willard  Family, 

To  trace  the  progress  of  families  from  their  origin  to  the 
present  cay,  when,  perhaps,  they  are  spread  over  the  four 
quarters  of  the  globe,  and  no  memorandums  are  found  except 
in  the  uncertain  pages  of  memory,  is  a  task  which  can  be 
but  feebly  performed.  In  noticing  the  name  of  Willard, 
which  was  my  family  name,  I  cannot  pretend  to  accuracy ; 
but  the  information  which  I  have  collected  will,  perhaps,  be 
of  some  service  to  others  who  possess  a  greater  stock ;  and 
if  the  various  branches  of  famiUes  would  contribute  their 
mites,  it  would  be  an  easy  way  of  remedying  the  deficiency 
which  at  present  exists  in  American  genealogy. 

The  first  person  by  the  name  of  Willard  who  settled  in  this 
country  was  Major  Willard,  whose  name  is  recorded  in  the 
history  of  New  England  wars.  In  the  year  1675,  in  the 
time  of  "  Philip's  war,"  (a  notorious  Indian,  who  lived  within 
the  present  limits  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,)  Major  Wil- 
lard, who  then  lived  in  the  town  of  Lancaster,  in  Massachu- 
setts, commanded  a  troop  of  horse ;  and  among  his  vigorous 
services  he  relieved  the  town  of  Brookfield  from  the  Nipnet 
Indians,  who  had  burned  every  house  but  one,  and  had  al- 
most reduced  that  to  capitulation.  When  Lancaster  was 
destroyed  by  the  Indians  Major  Willard  removed  to  Salem, 
where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  had  two  sons  ;  one 
of  whom  was  a  settled  minister  in  the  town  of  Groton,  from 

(128) 


I 


CAPTIVITY   OF    MUS.  JOHNSON. 


129 


which  pince  he  wn«  driven  by  the  Indians,  nnd  was  aftorwiirds 
installed  in  Boston.  Ilis  other  son,  Simon,  establislied  hin>- 
self  on  Still  River,  since  taken  frotn  Lancast(;r  and  incorpo- 
rated into  the  town  of  Harvard.  He  had  nine  son,-* ;  Simon, 
Henry,  Hezekiah,  John,  Joseph,  Josiah,  Samuel,  Jonathan, 
and  James.  Josiah  removed  to  Winchester,  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  afterwards  commanded  Fort  Dnmmer';  the  rest 
inherited  the  substance  of  their  father,  and  lived  to  very  ad- 
vanced ages  in  the  vicinity  of  their  birth.  They  all  left 
numerous  families,  who  spread  over  the  United  States.  His 
eldest  son,  Simon,  was  my  grandfather.  Ho  had  two  sons, 
Aaron  and  Moses  :  Aaron  lived  in  Lancaster,  and  JMoses,  my 
father,  removed  to  Lunenburg.  I  ought  to  remark,  that  my 
grandmother  Willard,  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  married 
a  pe  son  by  the  name  of  Farnsworth,  by  whom  she  had  three 
sons,  who  were  the  first  settlers  of  Charlestown,  No.  4.  One 
of  them  was  killed  by  the  Indians. 

My  father  had  twelve  children.  He  removed  to  Charles- 
town,  No.  4,  in  1742,  and  soon  had  the  pleasure  to  find  his 
children  settled  around  him.  lie  was  killed  by  the  Indians 
in  1756.  My  mother  died  in  March,  1797,*  and  had  lived 
to  see  twelve  children,  ninety-two  grandchildren,  one  hundred 
and  twenty-three  great-grandchildren,  and  four  great-great- 
grandchildren. The  whole  that  survive  are  now  settled  on 
Connecticut  River. 


) 


Notices  of  Mr.  James  Johnson. 

In  the  year  1730  my  great-uncle,  Colonel  Josiah  Willard, 
while  at  Boston,  was  invited  to  lake  a  walk  on  the  Long 
Wharf  to  view  some  transports  who  had  just  landed  from 
Ireland.     A  number  of  gentlemen  present  were  viewing  the 


*  At  the  age  of  eighty-four  she  busied  herself  in  making  a  cover- 
lid, which  contains  something  of  the  remarkable  ;  she  did  not  quite 
complete  it.     It  now  contains  upwards  of  five  thousand  pieces. 


■'-Wffmmm^gm-'' 


lao 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


! 


exercise  of  some  lada,  who  were  placed  on  shore  to  exhibit 
tlR'ir  activity  to  those  who  wi.sh.-d  to  purchase.     My  uncle 
spied  a  boy  of  sonic  vivacity,  of  about  ten  years  of  age,  and 
wlio  was  the  only  one  in  the  crew  who  spoke   English.     He 
bargained  for  hini.     I  have  never  been  able  to  learn  the 
price  ;  but  as  he  was  afterwards  my  husband,  I  am  willing  to 
suppose  H  a  considerable  sum.     He  questioned  the  boy  re- 
specting  his  parentage  and  descent.     All  the  information  he 
could  get  was,  that  young  James,  a  considerable  time  previous, 
went  to  sea  with  his  uncle,  who  commanded  a  ship  and  had 
the  appearance  of  a  man  of  property;  that  this  uncle  was 
taken  sick  at  sea  and  died  :  immediately  after  his  death  they 
came  in  si^ht  of  this  ship  of  Irish  transports,  and  he  was  put 
on  board."  His  being  the  only  one  of  the  crew  who  spoke 
Entrlish  and  other  circumstances  have  led  his  friends  to  con- 
clude that  this  removal  on  board  the  Irish  ship  was  done  to 
facilitate  the  sequestration  of  his  uncle's  property.     He  lived 
with  Colonel  Willard  until  he  was  twenty  years  old,  and 
then  bought  the  other  year  of  his  time.    In  1748  Governor 
Shirley  gave  him  a  lieutenant's  commission  under  Edward 
Hartwell,  Esq. 

Sitiiationof  the  Country  in  17 AL 

It  is  an  old  maxim,  that,  after  a  man  is  in  possession  of  a 
small,  independent  property,  it  is  easy  for  him  to  acquire  a 
great  fortune.  Just  so  with  countries :  possess  them  of  a 
few  inhabitants,  and  let  those  be  unmolested  by  Indians  and 
enemies,  the  land  will  soon  swarm  with  inhabitants.  But 
when  a  feeble  band  only  are  gathered  together  and  obliged  to 
contend  with  pestilence,  famine,  and  the  sword,  their  melan- 
choly numbers  will  decrease  and  waste  away.  The  situation 
of  our  ancestors  has  often  been  described  in  language  that 
did  honor  to  the  hearts  that  conceived  it.  The  boisterous 
ocean,  with  unknown  shores,  hemmed  them  in  on  one  side  ;  and 
a  forest,  swarming  with  savages  yelling  for  their  blood,  threat- 


CAPTIVITY    OF    MRS.  JOHNSON. 


181 


ened  on  the  other.  But  the  same  undaunted  spirit  which  has 
defended  them  in  so  many  perils  buoyed  them  above  despair 
in  their  early  struggles  for  safety  and  liberty.  I  shall  bo 
pardoned  for  the  digression  when  I  observe  that  I  have  in  all 
my  travels  felt  a  degree  of  pride  in  recollecting  that  I  be- 
longed to  a  country  whose  valor  was  distinguished  and  whoso 
spirit  had  never  been  debased  by  servile  submission. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen,  in  1744, 1  made  a  visit  from  Leom- 
inster to  Charlestown  to  visit  my  parents.  Through  a  long 
wilderness  from  Lunenburg  to  Lower  Ashuelot,  now  Swan- 
zey,  we  travelled  two  days:  a  solitary  house  was  all  the 
mark  of  cultivation  that  occurred  on  the  journey.  Guided 
by  marked  trees,  we  travelled  cautiously  through  the  gloomy 
forest  where  now  the  well-tilled  farms  occupy  each  rod  of 
ground.  From  Ashuelot  to  Charlestown  the  passage  was 
opposed,  now  by  the  Hill  of  Difficulty,  and  now  by  the 
Slough  Despond.  A  few  solitary  inhabitants,  who  appeared 
the  representatives  of  wretchedness,  were  scattered  on  the  way. 

When  I  approached  the  town  of  Charlestown,  the  first  ob- 
ject that  met  my  eyes  was  a  party  of  Indians  holding  a  war 
dance :  a  cask  of  rum,  which  the  inhabitants  had  suffered 
them  to  partake  of,  had  raised  their  spirits  to  all  the  horrid 
yells  and  feats  of  distortion  which  characterize  the  nation. 
I  was  chilled  at  the  sight,  and  passed  tremblingly  by.  At  this 
time  Charlestown  contained  nine  or  ten  families,  who  lived 
in  huts  not  far  distant  from  each  other.  The  Indians  were 
numerous,  and  associated  in  a  friendly  manner  with  the  whites. 
It  was  the  most  northerly  settlement  on  Connecticut  River, 
and  the  adjacent  country  was  terribly  wild.  A  saw  mill  was 
erected,  and  the  first  boards  were  sawed  while  I  was  there. 
The  inhabitants  commemorated  the  event  with  a  dance,  which 
took  place  on  the  new  boards.  In  those  days  there  was  such 
a  mixture  on  the  frontiers  of  savages  and  settlers,  without 
established  laws  to  govern  them,  that  the  state  of  society  can- 
not be  easily  described  ;  and  the  impending  dangers  of  war, 


J 


1A2 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


where  it  was  known  that  the  savages  vrould  join  the  enemies 
of  our  country,  retai-ded  the  progress  of  relinement  and  culti- 
vation. The  inhabiUmts  of  Charlestown  began  to  erect  a  fort, 
and  took  some  steps  towards  clearing  their  farms ;  but  war 
soon  checked  their  industry. 

Charlestown. 

In  the  year  1740  the  first  settlement  was  made  in  the  town 
of  Charlestown,  then  known  by  the  name  of  No.  4,  by  three 
families,  who  emigrated  from  Lunenburg,  by  the  name  of 
Farnsworth :  that  part  of  New  Hampshire  west  of  Merrimack 
River  was  then  a  trackless  wilderness.  Within  a  few  years 
past  instances  have  been  known  of  new  townships,  totally  un- 
inhabited, becoming  flourishing  and  thick-settled  villages  in 
the  course  of  six  or  seven  years.  But  in  those  days,  when 
government  was  weak,  when  savages  were  on  our  borders  and 
Frenchmen  in  Canada,  population  extended  with  timorous 
and  tardy  paces:  in  the  course  of  twelve  years  the  families 
increased  only  to  twenty-two  or  three.  The  human  race  will 
not  flourish  unless  fostered  by  the  warm  sunshine  of  peace. 

During  the  first  twenty  years  of  its  existence  as  a  settled 
place,  until  the  peace  between  Great  Britain  and  France,  it 
suffered  all  the  consternation  and  ravages  of  war ;  not  that 
warfare  which  civilized  nations  wage  with  each  other,  but  the 
cruel  carnage  of  savages  and  Frenchmen.  Sometimes  en- 
gaged in  the  duties  of  the  camp,  at  others  sequestering  them- 
selves from  surrounding  enemies,  they  became  familiar  with 
danger,  but  not  with  industrious  hu8bandry. 

In  the  year  1744  the  inhabitants  began  to  erect  a  fort  for 
their  safety.  When  the  Cape  Breton  war  commenced  the 
Indians  assumed  the  hatchet  and  began  their  depredations  on 
Charlestown  on  the  19th  of  April,  174G,  by  burning  the  mills 
and  taking  Captain  John  SpatFord,  Isaac  Parker,  and  Ste- 
phen Farnsworth  prisoners.  On  the  2d  of  May  following 
Seth  Putnam  was  killed.     Two  days  after  Captain  Payne 


c'.rPTivrrr  of  mks.  johnson. 


183 


arrived  with  a  troop  of  horse,  from  Massacliusetts,  to  defend 
the  place.  About  twenty  of  his  men  had  the  curiosity  to 
view  the  place  where  Putnam  was  killed,  and  were  ambushed 
by  the  Indians.  Captain  Stevens,  who  commanded  a  faw 
men,  rushed  out  of  the  fort  to  their  relief:  a  sharp  combat 
ensued,  in  which  the  Indians  were  routed.  They  left  some 
guns  and  blankets  on  the  field  of  action ;  but  they  carried  their 
dead  off  with  them,  which  is  a  policy  they  never  omit.  En- 
sign Obadiah  Sartwell  was  captured ;  and  Samuel  Farns worth, 
Elijah  Allen,  Peter  Perin,  Aaron  Lyon,  and  Joseph  Massey 
fell  victims  to  Indian  vengeance. 

On  the  19th  of  June  a  severe  engagement  took  place. 
Captain  Brown,  from  Stow,  in  Massachusetts,  had  previously 
arrived  with  some  troops  :  a  party  of  his  joined  a  number  of 
Captain  Stevens's  soldiers  to  go  into  the  meadow  after  their 
horses.  The  dogs  discovered  an  ambush,  which  put  them 
into  a  posture  for  action  and  gave  them  the  advantage  of  the 
first  fire.  This  disconcerted  the  savages,  who,  being  on  higher 
ground,  overshot  and  did  but  little  damage  to  the  English. 
The  enemy  were  routed,  and  even  seen  to  drag  several  dead 
bodies  after  them.  They  left  behind  them  guns,  spears,  and 
blankets,  which  sold  for  forty  pounds,  old  tenor.  During  the 
time  Captain  Josiah  Brown  assisted  in  ilefending  the  fort 
Jedediah  Winchel  was  killed;  Samuel  Stanhope,  Cornet  Ba- 
ker and  David  Parker  were  wounded.  During  this  summer 
the  fort  was  entirely  blockaded,  and  all  were  obliged  to  take 
refuge  within  the  pickets.  On  the  3d  of  August  one  Philips 
was  killed  within  a  few  feet  of  the  fort  as  he  accidentally 
stepped  out :  at  night  a  soldier  crept  to  him  with  a  rope,  and 
he  was  drawn  into  the  fort  and  interred.  In  the  summer  of 
the  year  1746  Captain  Ephraim  Brown,  from  Sudbury,  ar- 
rived with  a  troop  of  horse  to  relieve  Captain  Josiah  Brown. 
The  Sudbury  troop  tarried  about  a  month,  and  were  relieved 
by  a  company  commanded  by  Captain  Winchester,  who  de- 
fended the  place  till  autumn,  when  the  inhabitants,  fatigued 
12 


nili 


H 

I!  I 

1 


134 


INDIAN    NAllUATlVES. 


with  watching  and  weary  of  the  dangers  of  the  forest,  desert- 
ed the  place  entirely  for  about  six  months.  In  the  month  of 
August,  previous  to  the  evacuation,  the  Indians,  assisted  by 
their  brethren  the  French,  were  very  troublesome  and  mis- 
chievous :  they  destroyed  all  the  horses,  hogs,  and  cattle.  An 
attack  was  made  on  the  fort  which  lasted  two  days.  My 
father  at  this  time  lost  ten  cattle  ;  but  the  people  were  secured 
?)ehind  their  wooden  walls,  and  received  but  little  damage. 

In  this  recess  of  the  settlement  of  No.  4  the  Indians  and 
French  were  icelocked  in  Canada,  and  the  frontiers  suffered 
only  in  apprehension.  In  March,  1747,  Captain  Phinehas 
Stevens,  who  commanded  a  ranging  party  of  about  thirty 
men,  marched  to  No.  4  and  took  possession  of  the  fort.  He 
found  it  uninjured  by  the  onemy;  and  an  old  spaniel  and  a 
cat,  who  had  been  domesticated  before  the  evacuation,  had 
guarded  it  safely  through  the  winter,  and  gave  the  troops  a 
hearty  welcome  to  their  tenement. 

Captain  Stevens  was  of  eminent  service  to  the  infant  settle- 
ment. In  1748  he  moved  his  family  to  the  place,  and  en- 
couraged the  settlers  by  his  fortitude  and  industry.  In  the 
early  part  of  his  life,  when  Rutland  suffered  by  savage  ven^ 
geance,  when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Willard  was  murdered,  he  was 
taken  prisoner  and  carried  to  St.  Francis.  This  informed 
him  of  the  Indian  customs  and  familiarized  him  with  their 
mode  of  warfare.  He  was  an  active,  penetrating  soldier,  and 
a  respectable,  worthy  citizen. 

In  a  few  days  after  the  fort  was  taken  possession  of  by 
Captain  Stevens's  troops  a  party  of  five  hundred  French 
and  Indians,  commanded  by  Monsieur  Debelcie,  sallied  from 
their  den  in  Canada  and  made  a  furious  attack  on  the  fort. 
The  battle  lasted  five  days,  and  every  stratagem  which  French 
policy  or  Indian  malice  could  invent  was  practised  to  reduce 
the  garrison.  Sometimes  they  made  an  onset  by  a  discharge 
of  musketry;  at  others  they  discharged  fire  arrows,  which 
communicated  fire  to  several  parts  of  the  fort.     But  these 


CAPTIVITY    OP   MRS.  JOHNSON. 


185 


'S 


were  inf5ufficient  to  daunt  the  courage  of  the  little  band  that 
were  assailed.  Their  next  step  was  to  fill  a  cart  with  com- 
bustibles, and  roll  it  against  the  walls,  to  communicate  fire  ; 
but  the  English  kept  up  such  a  brisk,  incessant  fire  that  they 
were  defeated  in  the  project.  At  length  the  monsieurs,  tired 
with  fighting,  beat  a  parley.  Two  Indians,  formerly  acquaint- 
ed with  Captain  Stevens,  came  as  negotiators,  and  wished  to 
exchange  some  furs  for  corn  :  this  Captain  Stevens  refused, 
but  offered  a  bushel  of  corn  for  each  hostage  they  would 
leave  to  be  exchanged  at  some  future  day.  These  terms  were 
not  complied  with ;  and  on  the  fifth  day  the  enemy  retreated, 
at  which  time  the  soldiers  in  the  garrison  honored  them  with 
as  brisk  a  discharge  as  they  could  afford,  to  let  them  know 
that  they  were  neither  disheartened  nor  exhausted  in  ammu- 
nition. The  garrison  had  none  killed ;  and  only  one,  by  the 
name  of  Brown,  was  wounded. 

Perhaps  no  place  was  ever  defended  with  greater  bravery 
than  this  fort  during  this  action.  Thirty  or  forty  men,  when 
attacked  by  five  hundred,  must  have  an  uncommon  degree  of 
fortitude  and  vigilance  to  defend  themselves  during  a  siege 
of  five  days.  But  Captain  Stevens  was  equal  to  the  task, 
and  will  be  applauded  by  posterity.  After  the  battle  he  sent 
an  express  to  Boston  with  the  tidings.  Governor  Charles 
Knowles  happened  then  to  be  at  Boston,  and  rewarded  Cap- 
tain Stevens  with  a  handsome  sword ;  in  gratitude  for  which 
the  place  was  afterwards  called  Charlestown. 

In  November,  1747,  a  body  of  the  troops  set  out  from  the 
fort  to  return  to  Massachusetts.  They  had  not  proceeded  far 
before  the  Indians  fired  on  them.  Isaac  Goodale  and  Na- 
thaniel Gould  were  killed,  and  one  Anderson  taken  prisoner. 
From  this  period  until  the  end  of  the  Cape  Breton  war  the 
fort  was  defended  by  Captain  Stevens.  Soldiers  passed  and 
repassed  to  Canada ;  but  the  inhabitants  took  sanctuary  in  the 
fort,  and  made  but  little  progress  in  cultivation.  During  the 
-nciian  v/ars,  Vthich  issteu  till  tiie  year  17  GO,  Charlcaiown  was 


!|l1 


Mk 


1. 

t 

1       i 

1    i 

i      1 

,    i 

'         1 

1      \ 

i 

18G 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


noted  more  for  its  feats  of  war  than  a  place  of  rapid  improve- 
ment. Settlers  thought  it  more  prudent  to  remain  with  their 
friends  in  safety  than  risk  tlieir  scalps  with  savage  power. 
Since  that  period  it  has  become  a  flourishing  village,  and  con- 
tains all  that  a  rural  situation  affords  of  the  useful  and  the 
pleasant.  Numerous  farms  and  stately  buildings  now  flourish 
where  the  savage  roamed  the  forest.  The  prosperity  of  the 
town  was  greatly  promoted  by  the  Rev.  Bulkely  Olcott,  who 
was  a  settled  minister  there  about  thirty-two  years.  In  the 
character  of  this  good  man  were  combined  the  agreeable  com- 
panion, the  industrious  citizen,  and  the  unaffected  Christian. 
During  the  whole  of  his  ministry  his  solicitude  for  the  happi- 
ness of  his  parishioners  was  as  conspicuous  in  the  benefits 
they  received  from  his  assistance  as  in  their  sincere  attach- 
ment to  his  person.  As  a  divine  he  was  pathetic,  devout,  and 
instructive,  and  may  with  propriety  be  said  to  have 

Shown  the  path  to  heaven,  and  led  the  way. 

He  was  highly  respected  through  life.  In  June,  1793,  he 
died,  much  lamented. 

Removal  to  Charlcslown,  8fc. 

In  May,  1749,  we  received  information  of  the  cessation  of 
arms  between  Great  Britain  and  France.  I  had  then  been 
married  about  two  years,  and  Mr.  Johnson's  enterprising 
spirit  was  zealous  to  remove  to  Charlestown.  In  June  we 
undertook  the  hazardous  and  fatiguing  journey.  We  arrived 
safe  at  the  fort,  and  found  five  families,  who  had  ventured  so 
far  into  the  woods  during  hostilities.  But  the  gloomy  forest 
and  the  warlike  appearance  of  the  place  soon  made  me  home- 
sick. Two  or  three  days  after  my  arrival  orders  came  from 
Massachusetts  to  withdraw  the  troops.  Government  placed 
confidence  in  the  proffered  peace  of  Frenchmen,  and  withdrew 
even  the  appearance  of  hostility.  But  French  treachery  and 
savage  malice  will  ever  keep  pace  with  each  other.     Without 


CAPTIVITY   OF   MRS.  JOHNSON. 


137 


even  the  suspicion  of  danger,  the  inhabitants  went  about  their 
business  of  husbandry.  The  day  the  soldiers  left  the  fort 
Ensign  Obadiah  Sartwell  went  to  harrow  some  corn,  and 
took  Enos  Stevens,  the  fourth  son  of  Phinehas  Stevens,  Esq., 
to  ride  horse  :  my  father  and  two  brothers  were  at  work  in 
the  meadow.  Early  in  the  afternoon  the  Indians  appeared 
and  shot  Ensign  Sartwell  and  the  horse,  and  took  young 
Stevens  a  prisoner.  In  addition  to  this  my  father  and  broth- 
ers were  in  the  meadow,  and  we  supposed  they  must  be 
destroyed.  My  husband  was  gone  to  Northfield.  In  the 
fort  were  seven  women  and  four  men  :  the  anxiety  and  grief 
we  experienced  were  the  highest  imaginable.  The  next  night 
we  despatched  a  post  to  Boston  to  carry  the  news  of  our 
disaster ;  but  my  father  and  brothers  did  not  return.  The 
next  day  but  one  my  husband  and  five  or  six  others  arrived 
from  Northfield.  "We  kept  close  in  the  garrison,  suffering 
every  apprehension  for  ten  or  twelve  days,  when  the  sentry 
from  the  box  cried  out  that  troops  were  coming :  joyful  at  the 
relief,  we  all  mounted  on  the  top  of  the  fort,  and  among  the 
rest  discovered  my  father.  He,  on  hearing  the  guns,  sup- 
pos'ed  the  fort  was  destroyed,  left  his  team  in  the  meadow, 
and  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  Northfield  with  my  two 
brothers.  The  soldiers  were  about  thirty  in  number,  and 
headed  by  Major  Josiah  Willard,  of  Fort  Dummer.  Enos 
Stevens  was  carried  to  Montreal ;  but  the  French  commander 
sent  him  back  directly  by  the  way  of  Albany.  This  was  the 
last  damage  done  the  frontiers  during  the  Cape  Breton  war. 

Cursory  Notices. 

A  detail  of  the  miseries  of  a  "  frontier  man  "  must  excite 
the  pity  of  every  child  of  humanity.  The  gloominess  of  the 
rude  forest,  the  distance  from  friends  and  competent  defence, 
and  the  daily  inroads  and  nocturnal  yells  of  hostile  Indians, 
awaken  those  keen  apprehensions  and  anxieties  which  con- 
ception only  can  picture.  If  the  peaceful  employment  of  hus- 
12* 


,-fi 


m ! 


188 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


bandry  is  pursued,  the  loaded  musket  must  stand  by  his  side ; 
if  he  visits  a  neighbor,  or  resorts  on  Sundays  to  the  sacred 
house  of  prayer,  the  weapons  of  war  must  bear  him  company ; 
at  home  the  distresses  of  a  wife  and  the  tears  of  lisping 
children  often  unman  the  soul  *'>  '  9fl  danger  assailed  in 
vain.     Those  who  can  recollect  u  that  existed  between 

France  and  England  fifty  years  n^o  may  figure  to  them- 
selves the  unhappy  situation  of  the  inhabitants  on  the  fron- 
tiers of  New  Hampshire  :  the  malice  of  the  French  in  Can- 
ada, and  the  exasperated  savages  that  dwelt  in  their  vicinity, 
rendered  the  tedious  days  and  frightful  nights  a  season  of 
unequalled  calamities.    The  daily  reports  of  captured  families 
and  slaughtered  friends  mingled  grief  with  fear.     Had  there 
been  an  organized  government  to  stretch  forth  its  protecting 
arm  in  any  case  of  danger,  the  misery  might  have  been  in  a 
degree  alleviated.     But  the  infancy  of  our  country  did  not 
admit  of  this  blessing.     While  Governor  Shirley,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, was  petitioning  to  England  for  a  fleet  and  an  army, 
Benning  Wentworth,  the  supine  governor  of  New  Hampshire, 
obeyed  implicitly  the  advice  of  his  friend  Shirley,  and  re- 
mained inactively  secure  at  his  seat  at  Portsmouth.     At  the 
commencement  of  the  year  1745  the  Quixotic  expedition  to 
Louisburg   was  projected,   the   success  of  which  originated 
from  the  merest  accident  rather  than  from  military  valor  or 
generalship :  this  drained  the  thinly  inhabited  State  of  New 
Hampshire  of  most  of  its  effective  men.     From  that  period 
till  the  peace,  which  took  place  in  the  year  1749,  the  vision- 
ary schemes  of  Shirley  kept  the  best  soldiers  imbodied  in 
some  remote  place,  as  a  force  to  execute  some  impolitic  pro- 
ject.    The  conquest  of  Canada  and  the  attack  upon   Crown 
Point  are  recorded  as  specimens  of  the  wild  projects  which 
were  to  employ  the  infant  forces  of  New  England.     During 
this  time  the  frontiers  sustained  additional  miseries  by  having 
the  small  forces  of  the  state  deducted  for  purposes  which 
could  be  of  no  immediate  service  to  them.     The  savages  com- 


CAPTIVITY    OF   MRS.  JOHNSON. 


13'J 


mitted  frequent  depredations  on  the  defenceless  inhabitants; 
and  the  ease  with  which  they  gained  their  prey  encouraged 
the,r  boldness,  and  by  scattering  in  small  parties   they  were 
able    o  mfest  the  whole  frontier  of  New  Hampshire,  from 
Fort  Dummer,on  Connecticut  River,  to  the  lowest  settlement 
on  the  Merrimack.     During  this  war,  which  is  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Cape  Breton  war,  the  town  of  No.  4  could 
hardly  be  said  to  be  inhabited:  some  adventurers  had  made 
a  begmmng,  but  few  were  considered  as  belonging  to  the 
town.     Captain  Stevens,  whose  valor  is  recorded  as  an  in- 
stance of  consummate  generalship,  part  of  the  time  kept  the 
fort,  which  afforded  a  shelter  to  the  enterprising  settlers  in 
times  of  imminent  danger.     But  even  his  vigilance  did  not 
save  the  town  from  numerous  scenes  of  carnage.     At  the 
commencement  of  the  peace,  in  1749,  the  enterprising  spirit 
of  New  England  rose  superior  to  the  dangers  of  the  forest, 
and  they  began  to  venture  innovation.     The  Indians    still 
thirsty  for  plunder  and  rapine,  and  regardless  of  the  peace 
which  their  masters  the   French  had  concluded,  kept  up  a 
flying  warfare,  and  committed  several  outrages  upon  lives 
and  property.    This  kept  ffte  increasing  inhabitants  in  a  state 
of  alarm  for  three  or  four  years  :  most  of  the  time  they  per- 
formed their  daily  work  without  molestation,  but  retreated  to 
the  fort  at  each  returning  night. 

Our  country  has  so  long  been  exposed  to  Indian  wars  that 
recitals  of  exploits  and  sufJerings,  of  escapes  and  deliverances 
have  become  both  numerous  and  trite.  The  air  of  novelty 
will  not  be  attempted  in  the  following  pages  :  simple  facts, 
unadorned,  are  what  the  reader  must  expect :  pity  for  my  suf- 
ferings and  admiration  at  my  safe  return  is  all  that  roy  histo- 
ry can  excite.  The  aged  man,  while  perusing,  will  probably 
turn  his  attention  to  the  period  when  the  facts  took  place  • 
his  memory  will  be  refreshed  with  the  sad  tidings  of  his  coun- 
try's sufferings,  which  gave  a  daily  wound  to  his  feelings, 
between  the  years  1740  and  1760.   By  contrasting  those  days 


HI 


'I  ■■: 


^ 


140 


INDIAN    NAUKAT1VK8. 


with  the  present  he  may  rejoice  that  he  witnesses  those  times 
which  many  have  "  waited  for,  but  died  without  the  sight.'* 
Those  "  in  early  life,"  while  they  commiserate  the  sufferings 
which  their  parents  and  ancestors  endured,  may  felicitate 
themselves  that  their  lines  fell  in  a  land  of  peace,  where 
neither  savages  nor  neighboring  wars  molest  their  happiness. 


Situation  until  August  31,  1754. 

Some  of  the  soldiers  who  arrived  with  Major  Willard,  with 
the  inhabitants  who  bore  arms,  were  commanded  by  Captain 
Stevens  the  rest  of  tho  year  1749  and  part  of  the  following 
spring;  after  which  the  inhabitants  resided  pretty  much  in 
the  fort  until  the  spring  or  fall  of  the  year  1752.  They  cul- 
tivated their  lands  in  some  degree,  but  they  put  but  little 
confidence  in  the  savages. 

The  continuation  of  peace  began  by  degrees  to  appease  the 
resentment  of  the  Indians,  and  they  appeared  to  discover  a 
wish  for  friendly  intercourse.  Tile  inhabitants  in  No.  4  and 
its  vicinity  relaxed  their  watchfulness  and  ventured  more 
boldly  into  their  fields.  Every  appearance  of  hostility  at 
length  vanished.  The  Indians  expressed  a  wish  to  traffic ; 
the  inhabitants  laid  by  their  fears,  and  thought  no  more  of 
tomahawks  or  scalping  knives.  Mr.  Johnson  now  thought 
himself  justified  in  removing  to  his  farm,  a  hundred  rods  dis- 
tant from  the  fort,  which  was  then  the  uppermost  settlement 
on  Connecticut  River.  He  pursued  his  occupation  of  trade, 
and  the  Indians  made  frequent  visits  to  traffic  their  furs  for 
his  merchandise.  He  frequently  credited  them  for  blankets 
and  other  necessaries,  and  in  most  instances  they  were  punc- 
tual in  payment.  During  the  year  1753  all  was  harmony 
and  safety ;  settlements  increased  with  tolerable  rapidity ;  and 
the  new  country  began  to  assume  the  appearance  of  cul- 
tivation. 


CAPTIVITY   OF   MK8.   JOHNSON. 


141 


The  commencement  of  the  year  1754  began  to  threaten 
another  rupture  between  the  French  and  English;  and  as  the 
dividing  line  between  Canada  and  the  English  colonies  was 
the  object  of  contention,  it  was  readily  seen  that  the  frontier 
towns  would  be  in  imminent  danger.     But  as  immediate  war 
was  not  expected,  Mr.  Johnson  thought  that  he  might  risk 
the  safety  of  his  family  while  he  made  a  tour  to  Connecticut 
for  trade.     He  set  out  the  last  of  May ;  and  his  absence  of 
three  months  was  a  tedious  and  a  bitter  season  to  me.     Soon 
after  his  departure  every  body  was  "tremblingly  alive"  with 
fear.     The  Indians  were  reported   to  be  on   their  mareh  for 
our  destruction  ;  and  our  distance  from  sources  of  information 
gave  full  latitude  for  exaggeration  of  news  before  it  reached 
our  ears.     The  fears  of  the  night  were  horrible  beyond  de- 
scription ;  and  even  the  light  of  day  was  far  from  dispelling 
painful  anxiety.     While  looking  from  the  windows  of  my  log 
house  and  seeing  my  neighbors  tread  cautiously  by  each  hedge 
and  hillock  lest  some  secreted  sa  -age  might  start  forth  to  take 
their  scalp,  my  fears  would  baffle  description.     Alarms  grew 
louder  and  louder,  till  our  apprehensions  were  too  strongly 
conlirmed  by  the  news  of  the  capture  of  Mr.  Malloon's  family 
on  Merrimack  Eiver.     This  reached  us  about  the  20th  of 
August.     Imagination  now  saw  and  heard  a  thousand  Indians ; 
and  I  never  went  round  my  own  house  without  first  looking 
with  trerabhng  caution  by  each  corner  to  see  if  a  tomahawk 
was  not  raised  for  my  destruction. 

On  the  24th  of  August  I  was  relieved  *rom  all  my  fears 
by  the  arrival  of  my  husband.  He  brought  intelligence  from 
Connecticut  that  a  war  was  expected  the  next  spring,  but  that 
no  immediate  danger  was  contemplated.  He  had  made  prep- 
arations to  remove  to  Northfield  as  soon  as  our  stock  of  hay 
was  consumed  and  our  dozen  of  swine  had  demolished  our 
ample  stores  of  grain,  which  would  secure  his  family  and 
property  from  the  miseries  and  ravages  of  war.  Our  eldest 
son,  Sylvanus,  who  was  six  years  old,  was  in  the  mean  time 


''  »s 


142 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


I  9      >* 


to  be  put  to  school  at  Springfiekl.  Mr.  Johnson  brought  home 
a  large  addition  to  his  stores,  and  the  neiglibors  made  frequctit 
parties  at  our  house  to  express  their  joy  for  his  return ;  and 
time  passed  merrily  off  by  the  aid  of  spirit  and  a  ripe  yard 
of  melons.  As  I  was  in  the  last  days  of  pregnancy,  I  could 
not  join  so  heartily  in  their  good  cheer  as  I  otherwise  might. 
Yet  in  a  new  country  pleasure  is  often  derived  from  sources 
unknown  to  those  less  accustomed  to  the  woods.  The  return 
of  my  husband,  the  relief  from  danger,  and  the  crowds  of 
happy  friends  combined  to  render  my  situation  peculiarly 
agreeable.  I  now  boasted  with  exultation  that  I  should,  with 
husband,  friends,  and  luxuries,  live  happy  in  spite  of  the  fear 
of  savages. 

On  the  evening  of  the  29th  of  August  our  house  was  vis- 
ited by  a  party  of  neighbors,  who  spent  the  time  very  cheer- 
fully with  watermelons  and  flip  till  midnight.     They  all  then 
retired  in  high  spirits  except  a  spruce  young  spark,  who 
tarried  to  keep  company  with  my  sister.     We  then  went  to 
bed  with  feelings  well  tuned  for  sleep,  and  rested  with  fine 
composure  till  midway  between  daybreak  and  sunrise,  when 
we  were  roused  by  neighbor  Labarree's  knocking  at  the  door, 
who  had  shouldered  his  axe  to  do  a  day's  work  for  my  hus- 
band.    Mr.  Johnson  slipped  on  his  jacket  and  trousers  and 
stepped  to  the  door  to  let  him  in.     But  by  opening  the  door 
he  opened  a  scene  terrible  to  describe.     "  Indians !  Indians !  " 
were  the  first  words  I  heard.     He  sprang  to  his  guns ;  but 
Labarree,  heedless  of  danger,  instead  of  closing  the  door  to 
keep  them  out,  began  to  rally  our  hired  men  up  stairs  for 
not  rising  earlier.     But  in  an  instant  a  crowd  of  savages, 
fixed  horribly  for  war,  rushed  furiously  in.     I  screamed  and 
begged  my  friends  to  ask  for  quarter.     By  this  time  they 
were  all  over  the  house  —  some  up  stairs,  some  hauling  my 
sister  out  of  bed ;  another  had  hold  of  me ;  and  one  was  ap- 
proaching Mr.  Johnson,  who  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  floor 
to  deliver  himself  up.     But  the  Indian,  supposing  that  he 


cAi'Tivrrv  OF  mus.  joiixson. 


i4d 


;ht  home 
frequent 
rn;  and 
pe  yard 
,  I  could 
3  might. 

sources 
e  return 
owds  of 
sculiarly 
jld,  with 

the  fear 

was  vis- 
•y  cheer- 
all  then 
irk,  who 
went  to 
ivith  fine 
se,  when 
the  door, 
my  hus- 
sers  and 
the  door 
ndians ! " 
uns  ;  but 
I  door  to 
stairs  for 
savages, 
med  and 
ime  they 
uling  my 
!  was  ap- 
the  floor 
y  that  he 


would  make  resistance  and  be  more  than  his  match,  went  to 
the  door  and   brought   three  of  ids  comrades,  and  the  four 
bound  him.     I  was  led  to  the  door,  fainting  and  tremblin". 
There  stood  my  friend  Labarree  bound.     Ebenezer  Farnl- 
worth,  whom  they  found  up  chamber,  they  were  putting  in 
the  same  situation  ;  and,  to  complete  the  shocking  scene,  ray 
three  little  children  were  driven  naked  to  the  place  where  I 
stood.     On  viewing  myself  I  found  that  I,  too,  was  naked. 
An  Indian  had  plundered  three  gowns,  who,  on   seeing  my 
situation,  gave  me  the  whole.     I  asked  another  for  a  petti- 
coat; but  he  refused  it.    After  what  little  plunder  their  hurry 
would  allow  them  to  get  was  confusedly  bundled  up,  we  were 
ordered  to  march.     After  going  about  twenty  rods  we  fell 
behind  a  rising  ground,  where  we  halted  to  pack  the  things 
in  a  better  manner:  while  there  a  savage  went  back,  as  we 
supposed,  to  fire  the  buildings.     Farnsworth  proposed  to  my 
husband  to  go  back  with  him,  to  get  a  quantity  of  pork  from 
the  cellar  to  help  us  on  our  journey ;  but  Mr.  Johnson  pru- 
dently replied,  that,  by  that  means,  the  Indians  might  find  the 
rum,  and  in  a  fit  of  intoxication  kill  us  all.     The  Indian  pres- 
ently returned  with  marks  of  fear  in  his  countenance,*  and 
we  were  hurried  on  with  all  violence.     Two  savages  laid  hold 
of  each  of  my  arms,  and  hurried  me  through  thorny  thickets 
in  a  most  unmerciful  manner.     I  lost  a  shoe  and  suffered 
exceedingly.     We  heard  the  alarm  guns  from  the  fort.     This 
added  new  speed  to  the  flight  of  the  savages.     They  were 
apprehensive  that  soldiers  might  be  sent  for  our  relief.    When 

*  This,  as  we  afterwards  found,  Avas  occasioned  by  his  meeting  Mr. 
Osmer  at  the  door  of  the  house,  who  lodged  in.  the  chamber  and  had 
secreted  himself  behind  a  box,  and  was  then  making  his  escape.  He 
ran  directly  to  the  fort,  and  the  alarm  guns  were  tired.  My  father, 
Mr.  Moses  Willard,  wa*  then  second  in  command.  Captain  Stevens 
was  for  sallying  out  Avith  a  party  for  our  relief;  but  my  father  begged 
him  to  desist,  as  the  Ir  dians  made  it  an  invariable  practice  to  kill 
their  prisoners  when  attacked. 


>mk 


lU 


INDIAN    NAUUAilVLf*. 


wc  had  got  a  mile  and  a  Imlf  my  tu"mtJic8d  obli«|C(l  me  to  sit. 
This  being  observcil  by  an  Indian,  he  drew  hia  knife,  as  I 
supposed,  to  put  an  end  to  my  existence.     But  he  only  cut 
some  band  with  winch  ray  gown  was  tied,  and  then  pushed 
me  on.     My  little  children  were  crying,  my  husband  and  the 
other  two  men  were  bound,  and  my  sister  and  myself  were 
obliged  to  make  the  best  of  our  way  with  all  our  might.    The 
loss  of  my  shoe  rendered  travelling  extremely  painful.  ^  At 
the  distance  of  three  miles  there  was  a  general  halt.     The 
savages,  supjwsing  that  we  as  well  as  themselves  might  have 
an  appetite  for  breakfast,  gave  us  a  loaf  of  bread,  some  raisins, 
and  apples  which  they  had  taken  fnmi  the  house.     While  we 
Avere  forcing  down  our  scanty  breakfast  a  horse  came  in  sight, 
known  to  us  all  by  the  name  of  Scoggin,  belonging  to  rhinehas 
Stevens,  Esq.     One  of  the  Indians  attempted  to  shoot  him, 
but  was  prevented  by  Mr.  Johnson.     They  then  expressed  a 
wish  to  catch  him,  saying,  by  pointing  to  me,  for  squaw  to 
ride.     My  husband  had  previously  been  unbound  to  assist  the 
children  ;  he,  with  two  Indians,  caught  the  horse  on  the  banks 
of  the  river.     By  this  time  my  legs  and  feet  were  covered 
with  blood,  which  being  noticed  by  Mr.  Labarree,  he,  with 
that  humanity  which  never  forsook  him,  took  his  own  stock- 
ings and  presented  them  to  me,  and  the  Indians  gave  me  a 
pair  of  moccasons.     Bags  and  blankets  were  thrown  over 
Scoggin,  and  I  mounted  on  the  top  of  them,  and  on  we  jogged 
about  seven  miles  to  the  upper  end  of  Wilcott's  Island.     We 
there  halted  and  prepared  to  cross  the  river.     Rafts  were 
made  of  dry  timber.     Two  Indians  and  Farnsworth  crossed 
first ;  Labarree,  by  signs,  got  permission  to  swim  the  horse ; 
and  Mr.  Johnson  was  allowed  to  swim  by  the  raft  that  I  was 
on,  to  push  it  along.     We  all  arrived  safe  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.     A  fire  was 
kindled,  and  some  of  their  stolen  kettles  were  hung  over  it 
and  filled  with  porridge.     The  savages  took  delight  in  view- 
intr  their  spoil,  which   amounted  to  forty  or  fifty  pounds  in 


ji 


oAi'iivir^   or  jiha.  joiinson. 


145 


vulu«;.     Thpy  then   witi 


wlioop  and  hade  defiance  to  d 


1   a  (rue  .--avai^o  yoll  p^ave   the  war 


iwrvA'.    As  our  tarry  in  this  place 


Insted  an  hour, I  had  tinu,  to  rollcnt  on  our  iniserahle  .situation, 
eaptives,  ,n  the  power  of  unmerciful  savages,  without  pro- 
vision and  almost  without  elothe.s,  in  a  wilderness  where  we 
must  sojourn  as  long  as  the  ohildren  of  Israel  did  for  aught 
we  knew;  and,  what  added  to  our  distress,  not  one  of  our  sav- 
Hgc  masters  could  understand  a  word  of  Kngli.sh.     Here,  after 
bemg  hnrned  from  hon,e  with  such  rapidity,  I  have  leisure  to 
inform  the  reader  respecting  our  Indian  masters.    They  were 
e  even*  m  number,  men  of  middle  ago  except  one,  a  youth 
o   sixteen   who  n.  our  journey  discovered  a  very  mischievous 
aud  troublesome   disposition.      According   to  their  national 
practice,  he  who  first  laid  hands  on  a  prisoner  considered  him 
as  hjs  property.     My  master,  who  was  the  one  that  took  my 
hand  when  I  sat  on  the  bed,  was  as  clever  an  Indian  as  ever 

fh!r;  .  T'"  '''"'''^'  "*  ""'"^'•^"^  *''^^'^'  «  disposition 
that  showed  he  was  by  no  means  void  of  compassion  The 
four  who  took  my  husband  claimed  him  as  their  property ; 
and  my  sister,  three  children,  Labarree,  and  Fainsworth  had 
each  a  master.  When  the  time  came  for  us  to  prepare  to 
n^areh  I  almost  expired  at  the  thought  of  leaving  my  a. ed 
parents,  brothers,  sisters,  and  friends,  and  travel  wifh  savages 

s^^^^^^^^^^      '"'"^^^  ""'"°^^"  '•^^^--'''•"  ^^-  -^i-- 

ng  s  tvmt  on  J  then  was  in,  with  three  small  children.     The 
eldest,  Sylvanus,  was  but  six  years  old  ;  my  eldest  daughter 
Susanna,  was  four;  and   Polly,  the  other,  two.     My  Ster 

wise  thinly  clothed.     His  master  had  taken  his  i-iekef  «n^ 
-thmg  but  his  shirt  and  trousers  remained,     m;  C^X- 


fi  \bl 


uo 


INDIAN    NAltRATlVrs. 


■ 


! 


ters  hud  nothing  but  their  shifts,  and  I  only  the  gown  that 
was  handed  me  by  the  savages.     In  addition  to  the  suiFenngs 
which  arose  from*  my  own  deplorable  condition,  I  could  not 
but  feel  for  mv  friend  Labarree.     He  had  left  a  wife  and 
four  small  children  behind  to  lament  his  loss  and  to  render 
his  situation  extremely  unhappy.     With  all  these  misfortunes 
lyin<^  heavily  upon  me,  the  reader  can  imagine  my  situation. 
The'lndians  pronounced  the  dreadful  word  "munch,"  march  ; 
and  on  we  must  go.     I  was  put  on  the  horse ;  Mr.  Johnson 
took  one  daughter;  and  Mr.  Labarree,  being  unbound,  took 
the  other.     We  went  six  or  eight  miles  and  stopped  for  the 
ni'-ht.     The  men  were  made  secure  by  having  their  legs  put 
in°  split  sticks,  somewhat  like  stocks,  and  tied  with  cords, 
which  were  tied  to  the  limbs  of  trees  too  high  to  be  reached. 
My  sister,  much  to  her  mortification,  must  lie  between  two 
Indians,  with  a  cord  thrown  over  her  and  passing  under  each 
of  them      The  little  children  had  blankets ;  and  I  was  allowed 
one  for  my  use.     Tims  we  took  lodging  tor  the  night,  with 
the  sky  for  a  covering  and  the  ground  for  a  pillow.     Ihe  ta- 
tigues  of  the  preceding  day  obliged  me  to  sleep  several  hours, 
in  spite  of  the  horrors  which  surrounded  me.      The  Indian, 
observed  great  silence,  and  never  spoke  but  when  realy  ne- 
cessary ;  and  all  the  prisoners  were  disposed  to  say  but  little. 
My  children  were  much  more  peaceable  than  could  be  ima- 
gined ;  gloomy  fear  imposed  a  deadly  silence. 

History  of  out  Journey  through  the  Wilderness  till  we  came  to 
the  Waters  that  enter  Lake  Champlam. 
In  the  morning  we  were  roused  before  sunrise :  t^he  Indians 
struck  up  a  fire,  hung  on  their  stolen  kettles,  and  made  us 
some  water  gruel  for  breakfast.     After  a  few  sips  of  tin 
meagre  fare  I  was  again  put  on  the  horse,  with  my  husband 
by  my  side  to  hold  me  on.     My  two  fellow-prisoners  took 
.L  vli^  „;.io  ard  wp  marched  sorrowfully  on  for  an  hour  or 
rwo,'when  a  keener  distress  was  added  to  my  multiplied  afflic- 


CAPTIVITY   OP   MRS.   JOHNSON. 


147 


that 


tions.  I  was  taken  with  the  pangs  of  childbirth.  The  In- 
dians signified  to  us  that  we  must  go  on  to  a  brook.  When 
we  got  there  they  sliowcd  some  humanity  by  making  a  booth 
for  me.  Here  the  compassionate  rejidtr  will  drop  a  fresh 
tear  for  my  inexpressible  distress  ;  fifteen  or  twenty  miles 
from  the  abode  of  any  civilized  being,  in  the  open  wilderness, 
rendered  cold  by  a  rainy  day,  in  one  of  the  most  perilous 
hours,  and  unsupplied  with  the  least  necessary  that  could 
yield  convenience  in  the  hazardous  moment.  My  children 
were  crying  at  a  distance,  where  they  were  held  by  their 
masters,  and  only  my  husband  and  sister  to  attend  me.  None 
but  mothers  can  figure  to  themselves  my  unhappy  fortune. 
The  Indians  kept  aloof  the  whole  time.  About  ten  o'clock  a 
daughter  was  born.  They  then  brought  me  some  articles  of 
clothing  for  the  child  which  they  Jiad  taken  from  the  house. 
My  master  looked  into  the  booth  and  clapped  his  liands  with 
joy,  crying,  "  Two  moneys  for  me !  two  moneys  for  me ! "  I  was 
permitted  to  rest  the  remainder  of  the  day.  The  Indians 
were  employed  in  making  a  bier  for  the  prisoners  to  carry 
me  on,  and  another  booth  for  my  lodging  during  night.  They 
brought  a  needle,  and  two  pins,  and  some  bark  to  tie  the 
child's  clothes,  which  they  gave  my  sister,  and  a  large  wooden 
spoon  to  feed  it  with.  At  dusk  they  made  some  porridge, 
and  brought  a  cup  to  steep  some  roots  in,  which  Mr.  Labarree 
had  provided.  In  the  evening  I  was  removed  to  the  new 
booth.  For  supper  they  made  more  porridge  and  some 
johnny  cakes.  My  portion  v^'as  brought  me  in  a  little  bark. 
I  slept  that  night  far  beyond  expectation. 

In  the  morning  we  were  summoned  for  the  journey,  after 
the  usual  breakfast  of  meal  and  water.  I,  with  my  infant  in 
my  arms,  was  laid  on  the  litter,  which  was  supported  alter- 
nately by  Mr.  Johnson,  Labarree,  and  Farnsworth.  My  sis- 
ter and  son  were  put  upon  Scoggin,  and  the  two  little  girls 
rode  on  their  masters'  backs.  Thus  v;e  proceeded  two  miles, 
when  mv  carriers  grew  too  faint  to  proceed  any  farther.    This 


'-ill 


_';i.i'ii  .411111 


'MiwjSaB'f' 


I 


148 


INDIAN   NAURATIVKS. 


il! 


ill    : 


!  ! 


n: 


! 


l)eing  observed  by  our  sable  masters,  a  general  halt  was 
called,  and  they  imbodied  themselves  for  council.  My  master 
soon  made  signs  to  Mr.  Johnson  that  if  I  could  ride  on  the 
horse  I  might  proceed,  otherwise  I  must  be  left  behind.  Here 
I  observed  marks  of  pity  in  his  countenance ;  but  this  might 
arise  from  the  fear  of  losing  his  two  moneys.  I  preferred  an 
attempt  to  ride  on  the  horse  rather  than  to  perish  miserably 
alone.  Mr.  Labarree  took  the  infant,  and  every  step  of  the 
horse  almost  deprived  me  of  life.  My  weak  and  helpless 
condition  rendered  me,  in  a  degree,  insensible  to  every  thing. 
My  poor  child  could  have  no  sustenance  from  my  breast,  and 
was  supported  entirely  by  water  gruel.  My  other  little  chil- 
dren, rendered  peevish  by  an  uneasy  mode  of  riding,  often 
burst  into  cries ;  but  a  surly  check  from  their  masters  soon 
silenced  them.  We  proceeded  on  with  a  slow,  mournful  pace. 
My  weakness  was  too  severe  to  allow  me  to  sit  on  the  horse 
long  at  a  time.  Every  hour  I  was  taken  off  and  laid  on  the 
ground  to  rest.  This  preserved  my  life  during  the  third  day. 
At  night  we  found  ourselves  at  the  head  of  Black  River  Pond. 
Here  we  prepared  to  spend  the  night.  Our  supper  consisted 
of  gruel  and  the  broth  of  a  hawk  they  had  killed  the  preced- 
ing day.  The  prisoners  were  secured  as  usual,  a  booth  was 
made  for  me,  and  all  went  to  rest.  After  encampment  we 
entered  into  a  short  conversation.  My  sister  observed,  that, 
if  I  could  have  been  left  behind,  our  trouble  would  have  been 
seemingly  nothing.  My  husband  hoped,  by  the  assistance  of 
Providence,  we  should  all  be  preserved.  Mr.  Labarree  pitied 
his  poor  family ;  and  Farnsworth  summed  the  whole  of  his 
wishes  by  saying,  that,  if  he  could  have  got  a  layer  of  pork 
from  the  cellar,  we  should  not  be  in  fear  of  starvation.  The 
night  was  uncommonly  dark,  and  passed  tediously  off. 

In  the  morning,  half  chilled  with  a  cold  fog,  we  were  or- 
dered from  our  places  of  rest,  were  offered  the  lean  fare  of 
meal  and  wat^r,  and  then  prepared  for  the  journey.  Every 
thing  reseinbled  a  funeral  procession.    The  savages  preserved 


CAl'TIVnV    OF    MK.S.    JOHN.->ON. 


149 


their  gloomy  .sjulnes.-;.     The  prisoners,  bowed  down  with  grief 
and  fatigue,  felt  little  disposition  to  ttilk  ;  and  the  unevenness 
of  the  country,  sometimes  lying  in   miry  plains,  at  others 
rising  into  steep  and  broken  hills,  rendered  our  passage  haz- 
ardous and  painful.     Mr.  Labarree  kept  the  infant  in  his 
arms  and  preserved  its  life.     The  fifth  day's  journey  was  an 
unvaried  scene   of  fatigue.     The   Indians   sent  out   two  or 
three  hunting  parties,  who  returned  without  game.     As  we 
had  in  the  morning  consumed  the  last  morsel  of  our  meal, 
every  one  now  began  to  be  seriously  alarmed ;  and  hunger, 
with  all  its  horrors,  looked  us  earnestly  in  the  face.     At  night 
we  found  the  waters  that  run  into  Lake  Champlain,  which 
was  over  the   height  of  land.     Before  dark  we  halted ;  and 
the  Indians,  by  the  help  oi'  their  punk,  which  they  carried  in 
horns,  made  a  tire.     Tlicy  soon  adopted  a  plan   to  relieve 
their  hunger.     The  horse  was  shot,  and  his  flesh  was  in  a 
few  moments  broiling  on  embers ;  and  they,  with  native  glut- 
tony, satiated  their  craving  appetites.     To  use  the  term  po- 
liteness, in  the  management  of  this  repast,  may  be  thought  a 
burlesque ;  yej  their  offering  the  prisoners  the  best  parts  of 
the  horse  certainly  bordered  on  civility.     An  epicure  could 
not  have  catered  nicer  slices,  nor  in  that  situation  served  them 
up  with  more  neatness.     Appetite  is  said  to  be  the  best  sauce  ; 
yet  our  abundance  of  it  did  not   render  savory  this  novel 
steak.     My  children,  however,  ate   too  much,  which  made 
them  very  unwell  for  a  nunibei-  of  days.     Broth  was  made 
for  me  and  my  child,  which  was  rendered  almost  a  luxury  by 
the  seasoning  of  roots.     Aftei-  supper  countenances  began  to 
lirighten.     Those  w'ho  had  relished  the  meal  exhibited  new 
Htrength,  and  those  \s  lio  had  only  smiffed  its  effluvia  confessed 
themselves  regaled.     The  evening  was  employed  in  drying 
and  smoking  what  remained  for  future  use.     The  night  was 
a  scene  of  distressing  fears  to  me ;  and  my  extreme  weakness 
had  affected  mv  mind  to  such  a  d^""i'ee  that  evp»*v  difScu'tv 
appeared  doubly  terrible.     By  the  assistance  of  Scoggin  I 
13  * 


) 


I 


J 


M 


1 


150 


INDIAN    NAKUATIVLS. 


had  been  brought  so  far ;  yet  so  great  was  ray  debility  that 
every  hour  I  was  taken  oiF  and  laid  on  the  ground,  to  keep 
me  from  expiring.  But  now,  alas !  this  conveyance  was  no 
more.  To  walk  was  impossible.  Inevitable  death,  in  the 
midst  of  woods  one  hundred  miles  wide,  appeared  my  only 
portion. 

Our  Arrival  at  East  Bay,  in  Lake  Champlain. 

In  ths  morning  of  the  sixth  day  the  Indians  exerted  them- 
selves to  prepare  one  of  their  greatest  dainties.  The  marrow 
bones  of  old  Scoggin  were  pounded  for  a  soup ;  and  every 
root,  both  sweet  and  bitter,  that  the  woods  afforded,  was  thrown 
in  to  give  it  a  flavor.  Each  one  partook  of  as  much  as  his 
feelings  would  allow.  The  war  whoop  then  resounded,  with 
an  infernal  yell,  and  we  began  to  fix  for  a  march.  My  fate 
was  unknown,  till  my  master  brought  some  bark  and  tied  my 
petticoats  as  high  as  he  supposed  would  be  convenient  for 
walking,  and  ordered  me  to  "  munch."  With  scarce  strength 
to  stand  alone,  I  went  on  half  a  mile  with  my  little  son  and 
three  Indians.  The  rest  were  advanced.  My  power  to  move 
then  failed ;  the  world  grew  dark,  and  I  dropped  down.  I  had 
sight  enough  to  see  an  Indian  lift  his  hatchet  over  my  head  ; 
while  my  little  son  screamed, ''  ]\[a'am,  do  go  ;  for  they  will 
kill  you."  As  I  fainted,  my  last  thought  was,  that  I  should 
presently  be  in  the  world  of  i^pirits.  When  I  awoke  my 
master  was  talking  angrily  with  tlie  savage  who  had  threat- 
ened my  life.  By  his  gestures  I  could  learn  that  he  charged 
him  with  not  acting  the  honorable  part  of  a  warrjgj,  by  an 
attempt  to  de;;-roy  the  prize  of  a  brother.  A  whoop  was 
given  for  a  halt.  My  muster  helped  me  to  the  rest  of  the 
company,  where  a  council  was  held,  the  result  of  which  was, 
that  my  husband  should  walk  by  my  side  and  help  me  along. 
This  he  did  for  some  hours  ;  but  faintness  then  overpowered 
me,  and  Mr.  Johnson's  tenderness  and  solicitude  were  unequal 
to  the  task  of  aidina  nie  farther.     Another  council  was  held : 


I 


CAPTIVITY    OF    MRS.    JOlINaON. 


151 


I 


while  in  debate,  as  I  lay  on  the  ground  gasping  tor  breath, 
my  master  sprang  towards  me  with  his  hatchet.  My  husband 
and  fellow-prisoners  grew  pale  at  the  sight,  suspecting  that 
he  by  a  single  blow  would  rid  themselves  of  so  great  a  burden 
as  myself.  But  he  had  yet  too  much  esteem  for  his  "  two 
moneys."  His  object  was  to  get  bark  from  a  tree,  to  make  a 
pack  saddle  for  my  conveyance  on  the  back  of  my  husband. 
He  took  me  up,  and  we  marched  in  that  form  the  rest  of  the 
day.  Mr.  Labarree  still  kept  my  infant.  Farnsworth  carried 
one  of  the  little  girls,  and  the  other  rode  with  her  master. 
They  were  extremely  sick  and  weak,  owing  to  the  large  por- 
tion of  the  horse  which  they  ate ;  but  if  they  uttered  a  mur- 
muring word,  a  menacing  frown  from  the  savages  soon  im- 
posed silence.  None  of  the  Indians  Avere  disposed  to  show 
insults  of  any  nature  except  the  youngest,  Avhich  I  have  be- 
fore mentioned.  He  often  deliir'  -^  himself  by  tormenting 
my  sister,  by  pulling  her  hair,  treading  on  her  gown,  and 
numerous  other  boyish  pranks,  which  were  provoking  and 
troublesome.  We  moved  on,  faint  and  wearily,  till  night. 
The  Indians  then  yelled  their  war  whoop,  built  a  fire,  and 
hung  over  their  horse  broth.  After  supper  my  booth  was 
built  as  usual,  and  I  reposed  much  better  than  I  had  the  pre- 
ceding nights. 

In  the  morning  I  found  myself  greatly  restored.  Without 
the  aid  of  physicians,  or  physic.  Nature  had  begun  the  cure 
of  that  weakness  to  which  she  had  reduced  me  but  a  few  days 
before.  The  reader  will  be  tired  of  the  repetition  of  the  same 
materjil^  for  our  meals ;  but  if  my  feelings  can  be  realized, 
no  one  will  turn  with  disgust  from  a  breakfast  of  steaks  which 
were  cut  from  the  thigh  of  a  horse.  After  which  Mr.  John- 
son was  ordered  to  take  the  infant  and  go  forward  with  part 
of  the  company.  I  "munched"  in  the  renr  till  we  came  to 
a  beaver  pond,  which  was  formed  in  a  brancli  of  Olter  Creek. 
Here  I  was  obliged  to  wade.  When  half  way  over,  up  to 
the  middle  in  cold  water,  ray  little  strength  failed,  and  ray 


'',!!*|ii,'|jiii»  'i,' 


il 


152 


INDIAN  NARRATIVES. 


power  to  speak  or  see  left  me.     While  motionless  and  stiff- 
ened, in  the  middle  of  the  pond,  I  was  perceived  from  the 
other  side   by  Mr.  Johnson,  who  laid  down  the  infant  and 
came  to  my  assistance.     He  took  me  in  his  arms  ;  and  when 
.  the  opposite  side  was  gained,  life  itself  had  apparently  for- 
saken me.     The  whole  company  stopped ;  and  the  Indians, 
with  more  humanity  than  I  supposed   them   possessed  of, 
busied  themselves  in  making  a  fire  to  warm  me  into  life.    The 
warm  int^uence  of  the  fire  restored  my  exhausted  strength  by 
degrees;  and  in  two  hours  I  was  told  to  munch.     The  rest 
of  the  day  I  was  carried  by  my  husband.     In  the  middle  of 
the  afternoon  we  arrived  on  the  banks  of  one   of  the  great 
branches  of  Otter  Creek.     Here  we  halted  ;  and  two  savages, 
who  had  been  on  a  hunting  scout,  returned  with  a  duck.     A 
fire  was  made,  which  was  thrice  grateful  to  my  cold,  shiver- 
ing limbs.     Six  days  had  now  almost  elapsed  since  the  fatal 
morn  in  which  we  were  taken ;  and  by  the  blessing  of  that 
Providence  whose  smiles  give  life  to  creation  we  were  still 
in  existence.    My  wearied  husband,  naked  children,  and  help- 
less infant  formed  a  scene  that  conveyed  severer  pangs  to  ray 
heart  than  all  the  sufferings  I  endured  myself.     The  Indians 
were  sullen  and  silent ;  the  prisoners  were  swollen  with  gloomy 
grief;  and  I  was  half  the  time  expiring.     After  my  feelings 
were  a  little  quickened  by  warmth,  my  sad  portion  was  brought 
in  a  bark,  consisting  of  the  duck's  head  and  a  gill  of  broth. 
As  I  lilted  the  unsavory  morsel  with  a  trembling  hand  to  my 
mouth,  I  cast  my  thoughts  back  a  few  days  to  a  time  when, 
from  a  board  plentifully  spread  in  my  own  house,  I  ate  my 
food  with  a  merry  heart.      The  wooden  spoon  dropp'ed  from 
my  f(;eble  hand.     The  contrast  was  too  afiecting.     Seated  on 
u  rag.'^ed  rock,  beneath  a  hemlock,  as  I  then  was,  emaciated 
by  sickness,  and  surrounded   by  my  weeping  and  distressed 
family,  who  were   helpless   prisoners,  despair  would   have 
robbed  me  of  life,  had  I  not  put  my  whole  confidence  in  that 

T^Ainor  urlir*  It-ic  nAWpr  tti  cqir/s         O"'"  n-""-*^""'  'i^ *- .-^-^- 


CAPTIVITY    OK    mm.  JOHNSON. 


to  lord  the  stream.     I 


swa 


taken   up   by  my  Iiiishaiul.     Tl 
passing  dangerous.     Mr.  Lnbai 


Ilowcd  most  of  my  hrotli,  and 


153 


was 


nver  was  very  rapid   and 


cliild. 


was  tri 


roe,  when   half  over  with 


my 


pped  up  by  its  rapidity,  and  lost  the  babe  in  the 


water  :  little  did  I  expect  to  see  the  poor  tl 

'•""tunately  reached  a  corner  of  its  blanket  and  sav-^d  itTlife 


ling  again  ;  but  he 


le  rest  got  safe  to  the  other  si 


lore  ;  another  fi 


le  was  built. 


and  my  sister  dried  the  infant  and  its  clothes. 

^    Here  the  savages  for  the  first  time  gave  loud^tokens  of  joy, 
oy  lialloomg  and  yelling  in  a  tremendous  nnumer.     The  pris- 
oners were  now  introduced  to  a  new  school.     Little  did  we 
expect  that  the  accomplishment  of  dancing   would  ever  be 
aught  ijs  by  the  savages.     Hut  the  war  dance  must  now  be 
held  and  every  prisoner  that  could  move  must  take  its  awk-" 
ward  steps.     The  figure  consisted  of  circular  motion  round 
he  fare ;  each  sang  his  own  music,  and  the  best  dancer  was 
the  one  most  violent  in  motion.     The  prisoners  were  tau..ht 
each  a  song;    mine  was,  Banna  uufche   natchepnnq ;    mv 

Whether  tins  task  was  imposed  on  us  for  their  diversion,  or  a 
rehg^     ceremonial    I  cannot  say;  but  it  was  very  painful 
and  offensive.     In  the  forenoon  seven  Indians  came  to  u. 
who  were  received  with  great  joy  by  our  masters,  who  took 
great  pleasure  m  introducing  their  prisoners.    The  war  dance 
was  agam  held;  we  were  obliged  to  join  and  sing  our  songs, 
hile   he  Indians  rent  the  air  with  infernal  yelling.    We  then 
cnibarked,  and  arrived  at  Crown  Point  about  noon.     Each 
prisoner  was  then  led  by  his  master  to  the  residence  of  the 
I  rench  commander.    The  Indians  kept  up  their  infernal  yell- 
-g  the  whole  time.     We  w^ere  ordered  to  his  apartment,  and 
-ed  with  that  hospitality  wd.ich  characterizes  \he  best  part 
he  nation.     We  had  brandy  in  profusion,  a  good  dinner, 

«e  had  .ufFered  for  the  want  of  these  thing...     None  but  our- 


•<^m^^ 


154 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


selves  could  prize  their  value.  We,  after  dinner,  were  pa- 
raded before  Mr.  Commander  and  underwent  examination  ; 
after  which  we  were  shown  .  a  convenient  apartment,  where 
we  resided  four  days  »ot  sul.ject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  our 
savage  masters.  Here  we  received  great  civilities  and  many 
presents.  I  had  a  nurse,  who  in  a  great  measure  restored  my 
exhausted  strength.  My  children  were  all  decently  clothed, 
and  my  infant  in  particular.  The  first  day,  while  I  was  tak- 
ing a  nap,  they  dressed  it  so  fantastically,  a  la  France,  that  I 
refused  to  own  it  when  brought  to  my  bedside,  not  guessing 
that  1  was  the  mother  of  such  a  strange  thing. 

On  the  fourth  day,  to  our  great  grief  and  mortification,  we 
were  again  delivered  to  the  Indians,  who  led  us  to  the  water 
side,  where  we  all  embarked  in  one  vessel  for   St.  John's. 
The  wind  shifted  after  a  short  sail,  and  we  dropped  anchor. 
In  a  little  time  a  canoe  came  alongside  of  us,  in  which  was  a 
white  woman,  who  was  bound  for  Albany.      Mr.  Johnson 
begged  her  to  stop  a  few  minutes  while  he  wrote  to  Colonel 
Lydius,  of  Albany,  to  inform  him  of  our  situation,  and  to  re- 
quest him  to  put  the  same  in  the  Boston  newspapers,  that  our 
friends  might  learn  that  we  were  alive.     The  woman  deliv- 
ered the  letter,  and  the  contents  were  published,  which  con- 
veyed the  agreeable  tidings  to  our  friends,  that,  although  pris- 
oners, we  were  then  alive. 

The  following  letter,  in  return  for  the  one  we  sent  to  Colonel 
Lydius,  was  the  first  we  received  from  New  England  :  — 

Albany,  November  5,  1754. 

SiR^  _  I  received  yours  of  the  5th  of  October,  with  a  letter 
or  two' for  New  England,  which  I  have  forwarded  immediate- 
ly, and  have  wrote  to  Boston,  in  which  I  urged  the  govern- 
ment to  endeavor  your  and  family's  redemption  as  soon  as 
conveniency  would  admit. 

I  am  quite  sorry  for  your  doleful  misfortune,  and  hope  the 
just  God  will  endue  you  with  patience  to  undergo  your  trou- 


CAPTIVITY    OF   MRS.  JOflNSOX. 


155 


bles,  and  justly  use  his  rewards  on  the  evil  doers  and  authors 
of  your  misfortune.     Present  my  service  to  all  the  prisoners 
with  you,  from  him  who  subscribes  himself  to  be 
Your  very  humble  servant, 

John  W.  Lydius. 
Lieutenant  James  Johnson,  Montreal. 


'M 


After  a  disagreeable  voyage  of  three  days,  we  made  St. 
John's  the  16th  of  September,  where  we  again  experienced 
the  politeness  of  a  French  commander.  I,  with  my  child, 
was  kindly  lodged  in  the  same  room  with  himself  and  lady. 
In  the  morning  we  still  found  misfortune  treading  close  at  our 
heels :  we  must  again  be  delivered  to  our  savage  masters, 
and  take  another  passage  in  the  boats  for  Chamblee ;  when 
within  three  miles  of  which,  Labarree,  myself  and  child, 
with  our  two  masters,  were  put  on  shore.  We  were  ignorant 
of  our  destiny  ;  and  parting  from  my  husband  and  friends  was 
a  severe  trial,  without  knowing  whether  we  were  ever  to 
meet  them  again.  We  walked  on  to  Chamblee;  here  our 
fears  were  dissipated  by  meeting  our  friends.  In  the  garrison 
of  this  place  we  found  all  the  hospitality  our  necessities  re- 
quired. Here  for  the  first,  after  my  captivity,  I  lodged  on  a 
bed.  Brandy  was  handed  about  in  large  bowls,  and  we  lived 
in  high  style.  The  next  morning  we  were  put  in  the  custody 
of  our  old  masters,  who  took  us  to  the  canoes,  in  which  we 
had  a  painful  voyage  that  day  and  the  following  night  to 
Sorell,  where  we  arrived  on  the  19th.  A  hospitable  friar 
came  to  the  shore  to  see  us,  and  invited  us  to  his  house.  He 
gave  us  a  good  breakfast,  and  drank  our  better  healths  in  a 
tumbler  of  brandy.  He  took  compassionate  notice  of  my 
child,  and  ordered  it  some  suitable  food.  But  the  Indians 
hurried  us  off  before  it  could  eat.  He  then  went  with  us  to 
the  shore,  and  ordered  his  servant  to  carry  the  food,  prepared 
for  the  child,  to  the  canoe,  where  he  waited  till  I  fed  it. 
.he  fnar  was  a  very  genteel  man,  and  gave  us  his  benedic- 


jil 


'•  'Vi 


) 


ki  '^' 


i  4 


i 


H 


ir>G 


INDIAN    .NAUKATIVKS. 


tion  at  parting  in  feeling  language.  "VVe  then  rowed  on  till 
the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  when  we  landed  on  a  barren 
healh,  and  by  the  help  of  a  fire  cooked  an  Indian  dinner ; 
after  which  the  war  dance  was  held  and  another  infernal 
yelling.  The  prisoners  were  obliged  to  sing  till  they  were 
hoarse,  and  dance  round  the  fire. 

We  had  now  arrived  witliin  a  few  miles  of  the  village  of 
St.  Francis,  to  which  place  our  masters  belonged.  Whenever 
the  warriors  return  from  an  excursion  against  an  enemy, 
their  return  to  the  tribe  or  village  must  be  designated  by  war- 
like ceremonial ;  the  captives  or  spoil,  which  may  happen  to 
crown  their  valor,  must  be  conducted  in  a  triumphant  form, 
and  decorated  to  every  possible  advantage.  For  this  end  we 
must  now  submit  to  painting :  their  vermihon,  with  which 
they  were  ever  supplied,  was  mixed  with  bear's  grease,  and 
every  cheek,  chin,  and  forehead  must  have  a  dash.  We  then 
rowed  on  within  a  mile  of  the  town,  where  we  stopped  at  a 
French  house  to  dine :  the  prisoners  were  served  with  soup 
meagre  and  bread.  After  dinner  two  savages  proceeded /to 
the  village  to  carry  the  glad  tidings  of  our  arrival.  The 
whole  atmosphere  soon  resounded  from  every  quarter  with 
whoops,  yells,  shrieks,  and  screams.  St.  Francis,  from  the 
noise  that  came  from  it,  might  be  supposed  the  centre  of 
pandemonium.  Our  masters  were  not  backward  ;  they  made 
every  response;  they  possibly  could.  The  whole  time  we  were 
sailing  from  the  French  house  the  noise  was  direful  to  be 
heard.  Two  hours  before  sunset  we  came  to  the  landing  at 
the  village.  No  sooner  had  we  landed  than  the  yelling  in  the 
town  was  redoubled  ;  a  cloud  of  savages,  of  all  sizes  and 
sexes,  soon  appeared  running  towards  us.  When  they  reached 
the  boats  they  formed  themselves  into  a  long  parade,  leaving 
a  small  space  through  which  we  must  pass.  Each  Indian 
then  took  his  prisoner  by  his  hand,  and,  alter  ordeiing  him  to 
sing  the  war  sorsg,  began  to  march  through  the  gantlet.  We 
expected  a  severe  beating  before  we  got  through ;  but  we*  ^ 


CAVTlVriY    OF   Mils.  JOHNSON. 


167 


ed  on  till 
a  barren 
ti  dinner ; 
[•  infernal 
hey  were 

village  of 
rVhenever 
n  enemy, 
d  by  var- 
liappen  to 
ant  form, 
is  end  we 
ith  which 
•ease,  and 
We  then 
iped  at  a 
vith  soup 
ceeded*to 
^al.  The 
rter  with 
from  the 
:;entre  of 
liey  made 
!  we  were 
iful  to  be 
mding  at 
ing  in  the 
sizes  and 
y  reached 
3,  leaving 
!h  Indian 
)g  him  to 
let.  We 
but  we'  ^ 


agreeably  disappointed  when  we  fbund  tliat  each  Indian  only 
gave  us  a  tap  on  the  shoulder.  We  were  led  directly  to  the 
houses,  each  taking  his  prisoner  to  his  own  wigwam.  When 
1  entered  my  master's  door  his  brother  saluted  me  with  a  large 
belt  of  wamj)um,  and  ray  master  presented  me  with  another. 
Both  were  put  over  my  shoulders,  and  crossed  behind  and 
before.  My  new  home  was  not  the  most  agreeable  :  a  large 
wigwam,  without  a  floor,  with  a  tire  hi  the  centre,  and  only  a 
few  water  vessels  and  dishes  to  eat  from,  made  of  birch  bark, 
and  tools  for  cookery,  made  clumsily  of  wood,  for  furniture, 
wdl  not  be  thought  a  pleasing  residence  to  one  accustomed  to 
civilized  life. 

Residence  at  St.  Francis.  —  Sale  of  most  of  the  Prisoners  to 
the  French,  and  Removal  to  Montreal. 
Night  presently  came   after   our  arrival   at  St.  Francis. 
Those  who  have  felt  the  gloomy,  homesick  feelings  which 
sadden  those  hours  which  a  youth  passes  when  first  from  a 
father's  house,  may  judge  of  part  of  my  sufferings  ;  but  when 
the  rest  of  my  circumstances  are  added,  their  conception  must 
fall  infinitely  short.     I  now  found  myself,  with  my  infant,  in 
a  large   wigwam,  accompanied    with  two  or  three  warriors 
and  as  many  squaws,  where  I  must  spend  the  night,  and  per- 
haps a  year.     My  fellow-prisoners  were  dispersed  over  the 
town,  each  one,  probably,  feeling  the  same  gloominess  with 
myself.     Hasty  pudding  presently  was  brought  forward  for 
supper.     A  spacious  bowl  of  wood,  well  filled,  was  placed  in 
a  central  spot,  and  each  one  drew  near  with  a  wooden  spoon. 
As  the  Indians  never  use  seats,  nor  have  any  in  their  wig- 
wams, my  awkwardness  in  taking  my  position  was  a  matter 
of  no  small  amusement  to  my  new  companions.     The  squaws 
first  fall  upon  their  knees,  and  then  sit  back  upon  their  heels. 
Ihis  was  a  posture  that  I  could  noi  imitate.     To  sit  in  any 
other  was  thought  by  them  indelicate  and  unpolite.     But  I 
advanced  to  my  pudding  with  the  best  grace  I  could ;  not. 
H 


♦'^1 


K  '.B 


I 


168 


INDIAN    NAltriATlVK.x. 


however,  escaping  some  of  their  funny  remarks.     When  the 
hour  for  Bleep  came  on,  for  it  would  be  improper  to  call  it 
bedtime  where  beds  were  not,  I  was  pointed  to  a  plutlo.m, 
raised  half  a  yard,  where  upon  a  board  covered  with  a  blanket 
1  was  to  pass  the  night.   The  Indians  threw  themselves  down 
in  various  parts  of  tlie  building   in  a  manner  that  more  re- 
Bcmbled  cows  in  a  shed   than  human  beings  in  a  house.     In 
the  morning  our  breakfast  consisted  of  the  relics  ot  the  last 
night     My  sister  came  to  see  me  in  the  forenoon ;  and  wo   . 
spent  some  hours  in  observations  upon  our  situation  while 
washing  some  apparel  at  a  little  brook.     In  the  afternoon  I,- 
with   my  infant,  was  taken   to  the  grand  parade,  where  we 
found  a  lar-e  collection  of  the  village  inhabitants.     An  aged 
chief  stepped  forward  into  an  area,  and  after  every  noise  was 
silenced  and  every  one  iixed  in  profound  attention  he  began 
to  harangue  :  his  manner  was  solemn ;  his  motions  and  expres- 
sion gave  me  a  perfect  idea  of  an  orator.     Not  a  breath  wa^ 
heard,  and  every  spectator  seemed  to  reverence  what  he  said. 
After  the  speech  my  little  son  was  brought  to  the  opposite 
side  of  the  parade,  and  a  number  of  blankets  laid  by  his  side. 
It  now  appeared  that  his  master  and  mine  intended  an  ex- 
change  of  prisoners.     My  master,  being  a  hunter,  wished  tor 
my  son  to  attend  him  on  his  excursions.     Each  delivered  his 
nroperty  with  great  formality ;  my  son  and  blankets  being  an 
Tquivalent  for  myself,  child,  and  wampum.     I  was  taken  to 
the  house  of  my  new  master,  and  found  myself  allied  to  the 
first  family.     My  master,  whose  name  was  Gill,  was  son-in- 
law  to  the  grand  sachem,  was  accounted  rich,  had  a  store  of 
goods,  and  lived  in  a  style  far  above  the  majority  of  his  tribe. 
He  often  told  me  that  he  had  an  English  heart,  but  his  wife 
was  true  Indian  blood.     Soon  after  my  arrival  at  his  house 
the  interpreter  came  to  inform  me  that  I  was  adopted  into  his 
family     I  was  then  introduced  into  the  family,  and  was  told 
to  call  them  brothers  and  sisters.     I  made  a  short  reply,  ex- 
pressive of  gratitude  for  being  introduced  to  a  house  of  high 


OAPTlVm    OF    MRS.  JOHNaON. 


169 


rank,  and  requested  their  patienc*'  while  I  should  learn  the 
customs  of  the  nation.  This  was  scarce  over  when  the  atten- 
tion of  the  village  was  called  to  tlu!  gran<l  parade,  to  attend 
«  rejoicing  occasioned  by  the  arrival  of  some  warriors  who 
had  l)rought  some  scalps.  They  were  carried  in  triumph  on 
a  [KAe.  8avage  Iwtchery  uiK)n  murdered  countrymen  !  The 
sight  was  horrid.  As  I  retired  to  my  new  residence  1  could 
hear  the  savage  yells  that  accompanied  the  war  dance.  I 
spent  the  night  in  sad  reflection. 

My  time  now  was  solitary  beyond  description.  My  new 
sisters  and  brothers  treated  me  with  the  same  attention  that 
they  did  their  natural  kindred  ;  but  it  was  an  unnatural  situ- 
ation to  me.  I  was  a  novice  at  making  canoes,  bunks,  and 
tumplines,  which  was  the  only  occupation  of  the  squaws ;  of 
course,  idleness  was  among  my  calamities.  My  fellow-prison- 
ers were  as  gloomy  as  myself;  ignorant  whether  they  were 
to  spend  their  days  in  this  inactive  village,  to  be  carried  into 
a  war  campaign,  to  slaughter  their  countrymen,  or  to  be 
dragged  to  the  cold  lakes  of  the  north  in  a  hunting  voyage. 
We  visited  each  other  daily,  and  spent  our  time  in  conjectur- 
ing our  future  destiny. 

The  space  of  forty-two  years  having  elapsed  since  my  resi- 
dence in  St.  Francis,  it  is  impossible  to  give  the  reader  a 
minute  detail  of  events  that  occurred  while  there :  many  of 
them  are  still  forcibly  impressed  upon  my  memory ;  but  dates 
and  particulars  are  now  inaccurately  treasured  up  by  faint 
recollection.  Mr.  Johnson  tarried  but  a  few  days  with  me 
before  he  was  carried  to  Montreal  to  be  sold.  My  two  daugh- 
ters, sister,  and  Labarree  were  soon  after  carried  to  the  same 
place  at  different  times.  Farnsworth  was  carried  by  his 
master  on  a  hunting  scout ;  but  not  proving  so  active  in  the 
chase  and  ambush  as  they  wished,  he  was  returned  and  sent 
to  Montreal.  I  now  found  an  increase  to  my  trouble :  with 
only  my  son  and  infant  in  this  strange  land,  without  a  pros- 
pect of  relief,  and  with  all  my  former  trouble  lying  heaw 


160 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


upon  me,  disappointment  and  despair  came  well  nigh  being 
my  executioners.     In  this  dilemma,  who  can  imagine  my  dis- 
tress when  my  little  son  came  running  to  me  one  morning, 
swollen  with  tears,  exclaiming  that  the  Indians  were  going 
to  carry  him  into  the  woods  to  hunt?     He  had  scarcely  told 
the  piteous  story  before  his  master  came  to  pull  him  away. 
He  threw  his  little  arms  around  me,  begging,  in  the  agony  of 
grief,  that  I  would  keep  him.     The  inexorable  savage  un- 
clinched  his  hands  and  forced  him  away  :  the  last  words  I 
heard,  intermingled   with  his  cries,  were,  "Ma'am,  I  shall 
never  see  you  again."     The  keenness  of  my  pangs  almost 
obliged  me  to  wish  that  I  had  never  been  a  mother.     "  Fare- 
well, Sylvanus,"  said  I ;  "  God  will  preserve  you." 
*  •  •  *  * 

Mr.  Johnson  and  ray  daughter  were  taken  with  the  small 
pox;  and  I  obtained  permission  to  go  to  the  hospital  and  see 
them,  after  which  I  never  returned  to  the  Indians.  It  is  a 
singular  instance  of  divine  interposition  that  we  all  recovered 
from  this  malignant  disease.  We  were  remanded  to  prison, 
but  were  not  compelled  to  our  former  rigid  confinement.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  allowed,  at  certain  times,  to  go  about  the  city  in 
quest  of  provision.  But,  on  the  20th  of  October,  St.  Luc 
Lucorne  arrived  from  Montreal  with  the  news  of  Dieskau's 
defeat :  he  had,  ever  since  ray  husband's  misfortune  about  his 
parole,  b^en  his  persecuting  enemy.  By  his  instigation  we 
were  all  put  directly  to  close  prison. 

The  ravages  of  the  small  pox  reduced  us  to  the  last  extrem- 
ity ;  and  the  fetid  prison,  without  fire  or  food,  added  bitterness 
to  our  distress.  Mr.  Johnson  preferred  a  petition  to  the  lord 
intendant,  stating  our  melancholy  situation.  I  had  the  liberty 
of  presenting  it  myself;  and  by  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Per- 
thieur,  the  interpreter,  in  whom  we  ever  found  a  compassion- 
ate friend,  we  got  some  small  relief.  About  the  1st  of  Novem- 
ber I  was  taken  violently  ill  of  a  fever,  and  was  ca-ried  to 
the  hospital  with  my  daughter  Captive.      After  a  month's 


^h  being 
>  my  dis- 
morning, 
re  going 
'cely  told 
im  away, 
agony  of 
vage  un- 
words  I 
I,  I  shall 
53  almost 
»  Fare- 


tbe  small 
il  and  see 
}.  It  is  a 
recovered 
to  prison, 
lent.  Mr. 
;he  city  in 
•,  St.  Luc 
Dieskau's 
:  about  his 
gation  we 

3t  extrem- 
bitterness 
to  the  lord 
the  liberty 
Mr.  Per- 
jmpassion- 
of  Novem- 
carried  to 
a  month's 


CAPTIVITY    OF   MRS.  JOHNSON. 


161 


residence  there,  with  tolerably  good  attendance,  I  recovered 
from  my  illness  and  went  back  to  my  husband.  While  at 
the  hospital  I  found  an  opportunity  to  convey  the  unwelcome 
tidings  of  our  deplorable  situation  to  my  sister  at  Montreal,' 
charging  her  to  give  my  best  love  to  my  daughter  Susanna, 
and  to  inform  our  fellow-prisoners,  Labarree  and  Farnsworth, 
that  our  good  wishes  awaited  them.  Not  a  word  bad  we  yet 
heard  from  poor  Sylvanus, 

Winter  now  began  to  approach,  and  the  severe  frosts  of 
Canada  operated  keenly  upon  our  feelings.  Onr  prison  was 
a  horrid  defence  from  the  blasts  of  December:  with  two 
chairs,  and  a  heap  of  straw,  and  two  lousy  blankets,  we  may 
well  be  supposed  to  Wvv.  uncomfortably :  but  in  addition  to 
this,  we  had  but  one  poor  fire  a  day,  and  the  iron  grates  gave 
free  access  to  the  chills  of  the  inclement  sky.  A  quart  basin 
was  the  only  thing  allowed  us  to  cook  our  small  piece  of 
meat  and  dirty  crusts  in  ;  and  it  must  serve  at  the  same  time 
for  table  furniture.  In  this  sad  plight,  —  a  prisoner,  in  jail, 
winter  approaching,  —  conceive,  reader,  for  I  cannot  speak, 
our  distress. 

Our  former  benevolent  friends,  Captains  Stowbrow  and 
Vambram,  had  the  peculiar  misfortune  to  be  cast  into  a  prison 
opposite  to  us.  Suspicion  of  having  corresponded  with  their 
countrymen  was  the  ci-irae  witli  which  they  were  charged. 
Their  misfortune  did  not  preclude  the  exertion  of  generosity: 
they  frequently  sent  us,  by  the  waiting  maid,  bottles  of  wine 
and  articles  of  provision.  But  the  malice  of  Frenchmen  had 
now  arrived  to  such  a  pitch  againbt  all  our  country  that  we 
must  be  deprived  of  these  comforts.  These  good  men  were 
forbidden  their  offices  of  kindness,  and  our  intercourse  was 
entirely  prohibited.  We,  however,  found  means  by  a  strata- 
gem to  effect  in  some  measure  what  could  not  be  done  by 
open  dealing.  When  the  servants  were  carrying  in  our  daily 
supplies,  we  slipped  into  the  entry  and  deposited  our  letters 
in  an  ash  box,  which  were  taken  by  our  friends,  they  leaving 
11* 


-m 


Mi 
Mi 

l\ 

i 

i 

'        '   i 

H 


162 


INDIAN    NAKUATIVES. 


one  at  the  same  time  for  us :  this  served  in  some  measure  to 
amuse  a  dull  hour.     Sometimes  we  diverted  ourselves  by  the 
use  of  Spanish  cards :  as  Mr.  Johnson  was  ignorant  of  the 
game,  I  derived  no  inconsiderable  pleasure  from  mstructmg 
liira  '  But  the  vigilance  of  our  keepers  increased,  and  our 
paper  and  ink  were  withheld.     We  had  now  been  prisoners 
seventeen  months,  and  our  prospects  Avcre  changing  from  bad 
to  worse.     Five  months  had  elapsed  since  our  confinement  m 
this  horrid  receptacle,  except  the  time  we  lingered  in  the  hos- 
pital.    Our  jailer  was  a  true  descendant  from  Pharaoh ;  but, 
urged  by  impatience  and  despair,  I  softened  him  so  much  as 
to  get  him  to  ask  Mr.  Perthieur  to  call  on  us.     When  the 
good  man  came  we  described  our  situation  in  all  the  movmg 
terms  which  our  feelings  inspired,  which,  in  addition  to  what 
he  saw,  convinced  him  of  the  reality  of  our  distress.     He 
proposed  asking  an  influential  friend  of  his  to  call  on  us,  who, 
perhaps,  would  devise  some  mode  for  our  relief.     The  next 
day  the  gentleman  came  to  see  us :  he  was  one  of  those  good 
souls  who  ever  feel  for  others'  woes.    He  was  highly  affronted 
with  his  countrymen  for  reducing  us  to  such  distress,  and 
declared  that  the  lord  intendant  himself  should  call  on  us  and 
see  theextremiiiss  to  which  he  had  reduced  us.     He  sent 
from  his  own  house  that  night  a  kettle,  some  candles,  and  each 
of  us  a  change  of  linen. 

The  next  day,  January  8,  1756,  Mr.  Intendant  came  to 
fee  us.  He  exculpated  himself  by  saying  that  we  were  put 
there  by  the  special  order  of  Monsieur  Vaudrieul,  the  gover- 
nor-in-chief, and  that  he  had  no  authority  to  release  us.  But 
he  would  convey  a  letter  from  Mr.  Johnson  to  monsieur,  whicli 
might  have  the  desired  effect.  The  letter  was  accordingly 
written,  stating  our  troubles  and  beseeching  relief;  likewise 
praying  that  our  son  might  be  got  from  the  Indians  and  sent 
to  us,  with  our  daughter  and  sister  from  Montreal.  The  gov- 
ernor returned  the  following  obliging  letter  :  — 


CAPTIVITY    OF   MRS.  JOHNSON. 


163 


leasure  to 
'68  by  the 
mt  of  the 
Instructing 
,  and  oux' 

prisoners 
;  from  bad 
inement  in 
in  the  hos- 
iraoh ;  but, 
io  much  as 
When  the 
the  moving 
ion  to  what 
(tress.     He 
on  us,  who, 

The  next 
those  good 
ly  affronted 
istress,  and 
II  on  us  and 
J.  He  sent 
3S,  and  each 

mt  came  to 
ve  were  put 
,  the  gover- 
ise  US.  But 
isienr,  which 
accordingly 
ef;  likewise 
ans  and  sent 
I.     The  gov- 


TRANSLATION. 

T  have  received,  sir,  your  letter,  and  am  much  concerned 
for  the  situation  you  are  in.  I  write  to  Mr.  Longieul  to  put 
you  and  your  wife  in  the  civil  jail.  Mr.  L.  Intendant  will  be 
so  good  as  to  take  some  notice  of  the  things  you  stand  in  need 
of,  and  to  help  you.  As  to  your  boy,  who  is  in  the  hands  of 
the  Indians,  I  will  do  all  that  is  in  my  power  to  get  him  ;  but 
I  do  not  hope  to  have  a  good  success  in  it.  Your  child  in 
town  and  your  sister-in-law  are  well.  If  it  is  some  opportu- 
nity of  doing  you  some  pleasure  I  will  make  use  of  it,  unless 
some  reason  might  happen  that  hinder  and  stop  the  effects  of 
my  good  will.  If  you  had  not  before  given  some  cause  of 
being  suspected,  you  should  be  at  liberty. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Vaudrieul. 

From  the  receipt  of  this  letter  we  dated  our  escape  from 
direful  bondage.  Mr.  Intendant  ordered  us  directly  to  the 
new  jail,  called  the  civil  prison,  where  our  accommodations 
were  infinitely  better.  We  had  a  decent  bed,  candles,  fuel, 
and  all  the  conveniences  belonging  to  prisoners  of  war.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  allowed  fifteen  pence  per  day,  on  account  of  a 
lieutenant's  commission  which  he  held  under  George  II. ;  and 
I  was  permitted  to  go  once  a  week  into  the  city  to  purchase 
necessaries,  and  a  washerwoman  was  provided  for  my  use. 
We  were  not  confined  to  the  narrow  limits  of  a  single  room, 
but  were  restrained  only  by  the  bounds  of  the  jail  yard.  Our 
situation  formed  such  a  contrast  with  what  we  endured  in  the 
gloomy  criminal  jail  that  we  imagined  ourselves  the  favorites 
of  fortune  and  in  high  life. 

Residence  in  the  Civil  Jail,  and  Occurrences  till  the  20th  of 

July,  nbl. 

To  be  indolent  from  necessity  has  ever  been  deemed  a 
formidable  evil.      No  better  witnesses    than   ourselves   can 


'  \i 


i 


it 


!■        I 


164 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


testify  to  the  truth  of  the  remark,  although  our  lodgings  were 
now  such  as  we  envied  a  month  before  ;  yet  to  be  compelled 
to  continual  idleness  was  grievous  to  be  borne.  We  derived 
some  amusement  from  the  cultivation  of  a  small  garden  within 
the  jail  yard ;  but  a  continued  sameness  of  friends  and  action 
rendered  our  time  extremely  wearisome. 

About  a  month  after  our  arrival  at  this  new  abode,  one 
Captain  Milton,  with  his  crew,  who  with  their  vessel  were 
taken  at  sea,  were  brought  prisoners  of  war  to  the  same  place. 
Milton  was  lodged  in  our  apartment.     He  had  all  the  rude, 
boisterous  airs  of  a  seaman,  without  the  least  trait  of  a  gen- 
tleman, which  rendered  him  a  very  troublesome  companion. 
His  impudence  was  consummate ;  but  that  was  not  the  great- 
est evil "  while  some  new  recruits  were  parading  before  the 
prison  one  day,  Milton  addressed  them  in  very  improper  lan- 
guage from  our  window,  which  was  noticed  directly  by  city 
authority,  who,  supposing  it  to  be  Mr.  Johnson,  ordered  him 
into  the  dungeon.     Deeply  affected  by  this  new  trouble,  I 
again  called  on  ray  friend  Mr.  Perthieur,  who,  after-  having 
ascertained  the  facts,  got  him  released.    Mr.  Milton  was  then 
put  into  other  quarters. 

A  new  jailer,  who  had  an  agreeable  lady  for  his  wife,  now 
made  our  situation  still  more  happy.  My  little  daughters 
played  with  hers  and  learned  the  French  language.  But  my 
children  were  some  trouble ;  the  eldest,  Polly,  could  slip  out 
into  the  street  under  the  gate,  and  often  came  nigh  being  lost. 
I  applied  to  the  sentinel,  and  he  kept  her  within  proper 

bounds. 

Captain  :  Neil  and  his  brother,  from  Boston,  were  brought 
to  us  as  prisoners.  They  informed  us  of  the  state  of  politics 
in  our  own  country,  and  told  us  some  interesting  news  about 
some  of  our  friends  at  home. 

In  the  morning  of  the  13th  ot  August,  our  jailer,  with 
moon  eyes,  came  to  congratulate  us  on  the  taking  of  Oswego 
iVn  piiforefl  liftlp  into  his  snirit  of  iov.  pre- 


u.. 


French. 


CAPTIVITY   OF   MRS.   JOHNSON. 


165 


ferring  much  to  hear  good  news  from  the  other  side.  We 
were  soon  visited  by  some  of  the  prisoners  who  had  surren- 
dered. Colonel  Schuyler  was  in  the  number,  who,  with  the 
gentlemen  in  his  suit,  made  us  a  generous  present. 

The  remainder  of  the  summer  and  fall  of  1756  passed  off 
without  uny  sensible  variation.  We  frequently  heard  from 
Montreal.  My  sister  was  very  well  situated  in  the  family  of 
the  lieutenant  governor,  and  my  eldest  daughter  was  caressed 
by  her  three  mothers*  Could  I  have  heard  from  my  son, 
half  my  trouble  would  have  ended. 

In  December  I  was  delivered  of  a  son,  who  lived  but  a 
few  hours,  and  was  buried  under  the  Cathedral  Church. 

In  the  winter  I  received  a  letter  from  my  sister,  contain- 
ing the  sad  tidings  of  my  father's  death,  who  was  killed  by 
Indians  on  his  own  farm  the  preceding  Jnne,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-three.  Savage  vengeance  fell  heavily  upon  our  family. 
I  had  a  brother  wounded  at  the  same  time,  who  ran  to  the 
fort  with  the  spear  sticking  in  his  thigh.  Too  much  grief 
reduced  me  to  a  weak  condition.  I  was  taken  sick  and  car- 
ried to  the  hospital,  where,  after  a  month's  lingering  illness,  I 
found  myself  able  to  return. 

The  commencement  of  the  year  1757  passed  off  without  a 
prospect  of  liberty.  Part  of  our  fellow-prisoners  were  sent 
to  France,  but  we  made  no  voyage  out  of  the  jail  yard. 
About  the  1st  of  May  we  petitioned  Mons.  Vaudrieul  to  per- 
mit our  sister  to  come  to  us.  Our  prayer  was  granted ;  and 
in  May  we  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  her,  after  an  absence 
of  two  years.  She  had  supported  herself  by  her  needle  in 
the  family  of  the  lieutenant  governor,  where  she  was  treated 
extremely  well,  and  received  a  present  of  four  crowns  at 
parting. 

Impatient  of  confinement,  we  now  made  another  attempt  to 
gain  our  liberty.  Mr.  Perthieur  conducted  us  to  the  house 
of  the  lord  intendant,  to  whom  we  petitioned  in  pressing 
terms,  stating  that  we  had  now  been  prisoners  almost  three 


mi'- 


I 


mi 


16G 


INDIAN    NAKKATlVKd. 


yeaif?,  and  had  suffered  eveiy  thing  but  death  ;  and  that  would 
be  our  speedy  portion,  unless  we  had  relief.  His  lordship 
listened  with  seeming  pity,  and  promised  to.  lay  our  case  be- 
fore the  head  man  at  Montreal  and  give  us  an  answer  in 
seven  days  ;  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  we  had  a  per- 
mit to  leave  the  prison.  It  is  not  easy  to  describe  the  effect 
of  such  news ;  those  only  who  have  felt  the  horrors  of  con- 
finement can  figure  to  themselves  the  happiness  we  enjoyed 
when  breathing  once  more  the  air  ofrliberty.  We  took  lodg- 
ings in  town,  where  we  tarried  till  the  1st  of  June,  when  a 
cartel  ship  arrived  to  carry  prisoners  to  England  for  an  ex- 
change. Mr.  Johnson  wrote  an  urgent  letter  to  Mons.  Vau- 
drieul,  prayin^^  ihat  his  family  might  be  included  with  those 
who  were  to  take  passage.  Monsieur  wrote  a  very  encour- 
aging letter  back,  promising  that  he  and  his  family  should 
sail,  and  that  his  daughter,  Susanna,  should  be  sent  to  him. 
He  concluded  by  congratulating  him  on  his  good  prospects, 
and  ordering  the  governor  of  Quebec  to  afford  us  his  assist- 
ance.    This  letter  was  dated  June  the  27th. 

This  tide  of  good  fortune  almost  wiped  away  the  remem- 
brance of  three  years'  adversity.  We  began  our  prepara- 
tions for  embarkation  with  alacrity.  Mr.  Johnson  wrote  St. 
Luc  Lucorne  for  the  seven  hundred  livres  due  on  Mr.  Cuy- 
ler's  order ;  but  his  request  was,  and  still  is,  unsatisfied.  This 
was  a  period  big  with  every  thing  propitious  and  happy. 
The  idea  of  leaving  a  country  where  I  had  suffered  the  keen- 
est distress  during  two  months  and  a  half  with  the  savages, 
been  bowed  down  by  every  mortification  and  insult  which 
could  arise  from  the  misfortunes  of  my  husband  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  where  I  had  spent  two  years  in  sickness  and  de- 
spair in  a  prison  too  shocking  to  mention,  contributed  to  fill 
the  moment  with  all  the  happiness  which  the  lenevolent 
reader  will  conceive  my  due  after  sufferings  so  intense.  To 
consummate  the  whole,  my  daughter  was  t*.-  be  returned  to 
ray  arms  who  had  been  absent  more  than  i-'<ro  years.     There 


CAPTIVITY    OK   MRS.   JOHNriON. 


167 


was  a  good  prospect  of  our  son's  being  released  from  the  In- 
dians. The  whole  formed  such  a  lucky  combination  of  fortu- 
nate events  that  the  danger  of  twice  crossing  the  ocean  to  gain 
our  native  shore  vanished  in  a  moment.  My  family  were  all 
in  the  same  joyful  mood,  and  hailed  the  happy  day  when  we 
should  sail  for  England. 

But  little  did  we  think  that  this  sunshine  of  prosperity  was 
^\  so  soon  to  be  darkened  by  the  heaviest  clouds  of  misfortune. 
Three  days  before  the  appointed  hour  for  sailing,  the  ship 
came  down  from  Montreal  without  my  daughter.  In  a  few 
moments  I  met  Mr.  Perthieur-  "he  told  me  that  counter 
orders  had  come,  and  Mr.  Johnson  must  be  retained  a  pris- 
oner ;  only  my  two  little  daughters,  sister,  and  myself  could 
go.  This  was  calamity  indeed.  To  attempt  such  a  long, 
wearisome  voyage,  without  money  and  without  acquaintance, 
and  to  leave  a  husband  and  two  children  in  the  hands  of  ene- 
mies, was  too  abhorrent  fr.-  reflection.  But  it  was  an  affair 
of  importance,  and  required  weighty  consideration.  Accord- 
ingly, the  next  day  a  solemn  council  of  all  the  prisoners  in 
the  city  was  held  at  the  coffee  house.  Colonel  Schuyler  was 
president;  and  after  numerous  arguments  for  and  against 
were  heard,  it  was  voted,  by  a  large  majority,  that  I  should 
go.  I,  with  hesitation,  gave  my  consent.  Some,  perhaps, 
will  censure  the  measure  as  rash,  and  others  may  applaud  my 
courage ;  but  I  had  so  long  been  accustomed  to  danger  end 
distress,  in  the  most  menacing  forms  they  could  assume,  that 
I  was  now  almost  insensible  to  their  threats  ;  and  this  act  was 
not  a  little  biased  by  desperation.  Life  could  no  longer  re- 
tain its  value  if  lingered  out  in  the  inimical  regions  of  Canada. 
In  Europe  I  should,  at  least,  find  friends,  if  not  acquaintance ; 
and  among  the  numerous  vessels  bound  to  America  I  might 
chance  to  get  a  passage.  But  then,  to  leave  a  tender  husband, 
who  had  so  long,  at  the  hazard  of  his  life,  preserved  my  own,  — 
to  part,  perhaps  forever,  from  two  children,  —  put  all  my  reso- 
lution to  the  test  and  shook  my  boasted  firmness. 


L 


lOb 


INDIAN    NAKUAXIVE8. 


I 


Colonel  Schuyler,  whom  we  ever  found  our  benevolent 
friend,  promised  to  use  hib  influence  for  Mr.  Johnson's  re- 
lease und  for  the  redemption  of  our  children. 

On  the  20th  of  July  we  went  on  board  the  vessel,  accom- 
panied by  Mr.  Johnson,  who  went  with  us  to  take  leave.  We 
were  introduced  to  the  captain,  who  was  a  gentleman  and  a 
person  of  great  civility.  lie  showed  us  the  best  cabin,  which 
was  to  be  the  place  of  our  residence ;  and  after  promising  my 
husband  that  the  voyage  should  be  made  as  agreeable  to  mo 
as  possible,  h'i  gave  orders  for  weighing  anchor.  The  time 
was  now  come  that  we  must  part.  Mr.  Johnson  took  me  by 
the  hand  ;  our  tears  imposed  silence.  I  saw  him  step  into  the 
barge  ;  but  my  two  little  children,  sister,  and  myself  were 
bound  for  Europe. 

We  fell  down  the  River  St.  Lawrence  but  a  small  distance 
that  night.  The  next  morning  the  captain,  with  a  cheerful 
countenance,  came  to  our  cabin  and  invited  us  to  rise  and 
take  our  leave  of  Quebec.  None  but  myself  complied ;  and  I 
gazed,  as  long  as  sight  would  permit,  at  the  place  where  I  had 
left  my  dearest  friend. 

While  in  the  custody  of  the  Canadians,  a  number  of  cir- 
cumstances occurred  with  which  my  memory  is  not  strongly 
impressed;  but  a  dream  which  I  had  while  in  the  c  vil  jail 
will  never  be  forgotten.  Methought  that  I  had  two  rings  on 
one  fi*ger ;  the  one  a  plain,  and  the  other  a  diamond  mourn- 
ing ring.  The  plain  ring  broke  and  fell  from  my  finger,  while 
the  other  remained.  My  family  as  now  broke,  and  I  left  to 
mourn. 

Voyage  to  Plymouth.  —  Occurrences. —  Sailing  from  Plym- 
outh to  Portsmouth  ;  from  thence,  hy  the  Way  of  Cork,  to 
New  York. 

All  ray  fears  and  affliction  did  not  prevent  my  feeling  some 
little  joy  at  being  released  from  the  jurisdiction  of  French- 
men.    I  could  pardon  the  Indians  for  their  vindictive  spirit, 


CAI'TIVITY    OF    xMllS.   JOHNSON. 


169 


becuuao  they  had  no  claim  to  the  benefits  of  civih'zation.  But 
the  French,  who  give  lessons  of  politeness  to  the  rest  of  the 
world,  can  derive  no  advantage  from  the  plea  of  ignorance. 
The  blind  superstition  which  is  inculcated  by  their  monks  and 
friars  doubtless  stifles,  in  some  measure,  the  exertion  of  pity 
towards  tLeir  enemies ;  and  the  common  herd,  which  includes 
almost  seven  eighths  of  their  number,  have  no  advantages 
from  education.  To  these  sources  I  attribute  most  of  my 
sufferings.  But  I  found  some  benevolent  friends,  whose  gen- 
erosity I  shall  ever  recoJlect  with  the  warmest  gratitude. 

The  commencement  of  the  voyage  had  every  favorable 
presage ;  the  weather  was  fine,  the  sailors  cheerful,  and  the 
ship  in  good  trim.  My  accommodations  in  the  captain's  fam- 
ily were  very  commodious.  A  boy  was  allowed  me  for  my 
particular  use.  We  sailed  with  excellent  fortune  till  the  19th 
of  August,  when  we  hove  in  sight  of  old  Plymouth,  and  at 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  dropped  anchor. 

The  next  day  all  but  myself  and  family  were  taken  from 
the  vessel.  We  felt  great  anxiety  at  being  left,  and  began  to 
fear  that  fortune  was  not  vvilUng  to  smile  on  us  even  on  these 
shores.  We  waited  in  despair  thirty  or  forty  hours  and  found 
no  relief.  The  captain,  observing  our  despondency,  began 
his  airs  of  gayety  to  cheer  us.  He  assured  us  that  we  should 
not  suffer  ;  that,  if  the  English  would  not  receive  us,  he  would 
take  us  to  France  and  make  us  happy.  But  at  last  an  officer 
came  on  board  to  see  if  the  vessel  was  prepared  for  the  re- 
ception of  French  j)risoners.  We  related  to  him  our  situa- 
tion. He  conducted  us  on  shore  and  applied  to  the  admiral 
for  directions,  who  ordered  us  lodgings  and  the  king's  allow- 
ance of  two  shillings  sterling  per  day  for  our  support.  For- 
tunately we  were  lodged  in  a  house  where  resided  Captain 
John  Tufton  Mason,  whose  name  will  be  familiar  to  the  in- 
habitants of  New  Hampshire  on  account  of  his  patent.  He 
very  kindly  interested  himself  in  our  favor,  and  wrote  to 
Messrs.  Thomlinson  and  Apthorp,  agents  at  London  for  the 
15 


Jmtm 


i 


170 


INDIAN    NARUATIVKS. 


Province  of  New  Il-A-upi-Uiiv,  soliciting  thoir  assistance  in  my 
behalf.  We  i.ni'n'il  «'  Plymouth  but  a  fortnight,  during 
which  time  I  received  much  attention,  and  ha**  to  gratify 
many  inquisitive  friends  with  the  hisrory  of  my  suiierings. 

Captain  Mason  procured  mo  a  passage  to  Portsmouth  in 
the  Rainbow  man-of-war,  from  whence  T  was  to  take  passage 
in  a  packet  for  America.  Just  as  1  stepped  on  board  the 
Rainbow,  a  good  lady,  with  her  son,  came  to  make  me  a  visit. 
Her  cui'iosity  to  see  a  person  of  my  description  was  not  abattul 
by  my  being  on  my  passage.  She  said  she  could  not  sleep 
till  she  had  seen  the  person  who  had  suffered  such  hard  for- 
tune. After  she  had  asked  all  the  questions  that  time  wouU 
allow  of  she  gave  me  a  guinea,  and  a  half  guinea  to  my  sister, 
and  a  muslin  handkerchief  to  each  of  our  little  girls.  On 
our  arrival  at  Portsmouth  the  packet  had  sailed.  The  cap- 
tain of  the  Rcinbow,  not  finding  it  convenient  to  keep  us  with 
him,  introduced  us  on  board  the  Royal  Ann. 

Wherever  we  lived  we  found  the  best  friends  and  the  po- 
litest treatment.  It  will  be  thought  singular  that  a  defence- 
less woman  should  suffer  so  many  changes  without  meeting 
with  some  insults  and  many  incivilities.  But  during  my  long 
residence  on  board  the  various  vessels  I  received  the  most 
delicate  attention  from  my  companions.  The  officers  were 
assiduous  in  making  my  situation  agreeable,  and  readily  prof- 
fered their  services. 

While  on  board  the  Royal  Ann  I  received  the  folio  ing 
letters.  The  reader  will  excuse  the  recitation.  It  would  be 
ingratitude  not  to  record  such  conspicuous  acts  of  benevolence. 


Plymouth,  September  13,  1767. 
Madam,  —  Late  last  postnight  I  received  an  answer  from 
Mr.  Apthorp,  who  is  partner  with  Mr.  Thomlinson,  the  agent 
for  New  Hampshire,  with  a  letter  enclosed  to  you,  which  gave 
you  liberty  to  draw  on  him  for  fifteen  guineas.  As  Madam 
Hornech  was  just  closing  her  letter  to  you,  I  gave  it  her  to 


CAPTIVITY    OF   MU8.   JOHNSON. 


171 


enclose  for  you.  I  now  write  again  to  London  on  your  be- 
half. You  must  immediately  write  Mr.  Apthorp  what  you 
intend  to  do,  &nd  what  further  you  would  have  him  and  our 
friends  at  London  do  for  you. 

I  hope  you  have  received  the  benefaction  of  the  charitable 
ladies  in  this  town.  AH  friends  here  commiserate  your  mis- 
fortunes and  wish  you  well,  together  with  your  sister  and 
children. 

Your  friend  and  countryman  to  serve, 

John  T.  Mason. 
Mrs.  Johnson. 


IP' 


were 


London,  September  7,  1757. 
Madam,  —  I  received  a  letter  from  Captain  Mason,  dated 
the  30th  of  last  month,  giving  an  accouiit  of  your  unfortu- 
nate situation  ;  and  yesterday  Mr.  Thomlinson,  who  is  ill  in 
the  country,  sent  me  your  letter,  together  with  Captain  Ma- 
son's, to  him,  with  the  papers  relative  to  you.  In  consequence 
of  which  I  this  day  applied  to  a  number  of  gentlemen  in  your 
behalf,  who  very  readily  gave  their  assistance ;  but  as  I  am  a 
stranger  to  the  stei)S  you  intend  to  pursue,  I  can  only  give 
you  liberty  at  present  to  draw  on  me  for  ten  or  fifteen  guineas, 
for  which  sum  your  bill  shall  be  paid ;  and  when  you  furnish 
me  with  information  I  shall  very  cheerfully  giv*  any  further- 
ance in  my  power  to  your  relief,  when  I  shall  also  send  you 
a  list  of  your  benefactors. 

I  am,  madam, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

John  Apthorp. 
Mrs.  Susanna  Johnson. 


LETTER   FROM   II.    GROVE. 

I  have  now  the  pleasure  to  let  dear  Mrs.  Johnson  know  the 
goodness  of  Mrs.  Hornech.  She  has  collected  seven  pounds 
for  you,  and  sent  it  to  Mrs.  Brett,  who  lives  in  the  yard  at 


Miiim] 


172 


INIHAN    NAIIKATIVKS. 


Portflmoiitl),  to  bcf?  her  fiivors  to  you  in  .iiiy  tliinpj  she  cnn  do 
to  liclp  or  assist  yon.  SUe  is  a  }j;oo(l  lady  :  do  go  to  Imr  and 
let  her  know  your  distress.  Captain  Mason  has  got  a  letter 
this  post,  hut  he  is  not  at  home ;  cannot  tell  you  further. 
You  will  excuse  this  serawl,  likewise  my  not  enlarging,  as  Mr. 
llornech  waits  to  send  it  away.  Only  helieve  me,  madam, 
you  have  my  earnest  prayers  to  God  to  help  and  assist  you. 
My  mannna's  compliments  with  mine,  and  hegs  to  wait  on 
you  ;  and  helievii  me,  dear  Mrs.  Johnson,  yours  in  all  events 

to  servo  you, 

Hannah  Guove. 

Sunday  eve,  10  o'clock. 

I  received  the  donation,  and  Mr.  Apthorp  sent  tne  the  fif- 
teen guineas.  I  sincerely  lament  that  he  omitted  sending  me 
the  mimes  of  my  henefactors. 

The  captain  of  the  Royal  Ann,  supposing  my  situation  with 
him  might  not  be  so  convenient,  applied  to  the  mayor  for  a 
permit  for  me  to  take  lodgings  in  the  city ;  which  was  granted. 
1  took  new  lodgings,  where  I  tarried  three  or  four  days,  when 
orders  came  for  me  to  be  on  board  the  Orange  man-of-war  in 
three  hours,  which  was  to  sail  for  America.     We  made  all 
possible  despatch  ;  but  when  we  got  to  the  shore  we  were  as- 
tonished to  find  the  ship  too  far  under  way  to  be  overtaken. 
No  time  was  to  be  lost.     I  applied  to  a  waterman  to  carry  us 
to  a  merchantman,  which  was  weighing  anchor  at  a  distance  to 
go  in  the  same  fleet.     He  hesitated  long  enough  to  pronounce 
a  chapter  of  oaths,  and  rowed  us  off.     When  we  came  to  the 
vessel  I  petitioned  the  captain  to  take  us  on  board  till  he 
overtook  the  Orange.     He  directly  flew  into  a  violent  passion, 
and  offered  greater  insults  than  I  had  ever  received  during 
my  whole  voyage.     He  swore  we  were  women  of  bad  fame, 
who  wished  to  follow  the  army,  and  that  he  would  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  us.     I  begged  him  to  calm  his  rage,  and 
we  would  convince  him  of  his  oror.     But  fortunately  the 


CAFTIVrrif  ov   mk.h.  JOIINMON. 


171 


viottUiJlGr  of  the  (loet  Imppeoed  to  bo  in  tlio  nhip,  who  at  thii 
inoini'iit  Htepp<Ml  forwurd  with  hin  roll  of  iiaincH  and  told  the 
outrageous  captain  that  h«  wouhl  Hoon  convince  him  whether 
wc  deserved  notice  by  searching  his  list.  lie  soon  found  our 
nanicH,  and  the  captain  began  to  beg  pardon.  lie  took  us  on 
board  and  apologized  for  his  rudeness. 


•  •  •  •  « 

When  within  half  a  dozen  miles  of  Springfield,  Mr.  Ely,  a 
benevolent  friend  of  Mr.  Johnson's,  sent  his  two  sons  with  a 
slcigii  to  convey  nie  to  his  house,  where  I  projwsed  staying 
till  some  of  my  friends  could  hear  of  my  arrival.  Fortu- 
nately Mr.  Johnson  about  the  same  time  arrived  at  Boston ; 
but  misfortune  had  not  yet  filled  the  measure  of  his  calamity, 
lie  had  no  sooner  landed  than  he  was  ptrt  under  guard,  on 
suspicion  of  not  performing  his  duty  in  the  redemption  of  the 
Canada  prisoners,  which  suspicion  was  occasioned  by  his  re- 
missness in  producing  his  vouchers.  But  the  following  cer- 
tificate procured  his  liberty :  — 

This  is  to  certify  whom  it  may  concern,  that  the  bearer, 
Lieutenant  James  Johnson,  inhabitant  in  the  town  of  Charles- 
town,  in  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  in  New  England, 
who,  together  with  his  family,  were  taken  by  the  Indians  on 
the  30th  of  August,  17.')4,  has  ever  since  continued  a  steady 
and  faithful  subject  to  his  maj(;fity  King  George,  and  has  used 
his  utmost  endeavors  to  redeem  his  own  I'amily,  and  all  others 
belonging  to  the  province  aforesaid,  that  were  in  the  hands  of 
the  French  and  Indians,  which  he  cannot  yet  accomplish  ;  and 
that  both  himself  and  family  have  undergone  innumerable 
hardships  and  afflictions  since  they  have  been  prisoners  in 
Canada. 

In  testimony,  of  which,  we,  the  subscribers,  officers  in  his 
Britannic  majesty's  service,  and  now  prisoners  of  war  at 
Quebec,  have  thought  it  necessary  to  grant  him  this  certilicate, 
15* 


t» 


Ill'' 


!i ! ' ! 


174 


INDIAN   NARUATIVES. 


and  do  recommend  him  as  an  object  worthy  the  aid  and  com- 
passion of  every  honest  Englishman. 

(Signed,)  Peter  Schuyler, 

Andrew  Watkins, 
William  Martin, 
William  Padgett. 
QuEBBC,  September  16,  1757. 

To  compensate  him  for  this  misfortune.  Governor  Pownall 
recommended  a  grant,  which  tlie  general  court  complied  with, 
and  gave  him  one  hundred  dollars  from  the  treasury ;  and  he 
was  recorded  a  faithful  subject  of  Kiwg  George. 

After  his  dismission  from  the  guards  in  Boston  he  pro- 
ceeded directly  for  Charlestown.  When  within  fifteen  miles 
of  Springfield  he  was  met  by  a  gentleman  who  had  just  be- 
fore seen  me,  who  gave  him  the  best  news  he  could  have 
heard :  although  it  was  then  late  at  night,  he  lost  not  a  mo- 
ment. At  two  o  clock  in  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  January, 
1758,  I  again  embraced  my  dearest  friend.  Happy  New 
Year  !  With  pleasure  would  I  describe  my  emotions  of  joy, 
could  language  paint  them  suiliciently  forcible ;  but  the  feeble 
pen  shrinks  from  the  task. 

Charlestown  was  still  a  frontier  town,  and  suffered  from 
savage  depredations,  which  rendered  it  an  improper  residence 
for  me  ;  consequently  I  went  to  Lancaster.  Mr.  Johnson  in 
a  few  days  set  out  for  New  York  to  adjust  his  Canada  ac- 
counts. But  on  his  journey  he  was  persuaded  by  Governor 
Pownall  to  take  a  captain's  commission  and  join  the  forces 
bound  for  Ticondcroga,  where  he  was  killed  on  the  8th  of 
July  following,  in  the  battle  that  proved  fatal  to  Lord  How, 
while  fighting  for  his  country.  Humanity  will  weep  with  me. 
Tlie  cup  of  sorrow  was  now  replete  with  bitter  drops.  All 
my  former  miseries  were  lost  in  the  affliction  of  a  widow. 

In  October,  1758,  I  was  informed  that  my  son  Sylvanus 
was  at  Northampton  sick  of  a  scald.     I  hastened  to  the  place 


# 
^ 


CAPTIVITY    OF   MRS.  JOHNSON. 


175 


and  found  him  in  a  deplorable  situation.  He  was  b!'ou<?ht 
there  by  Major  I'utnam,  (afterwards  General  Putnam,)  with 
Mrs.  How  and  her  family,  who  had  returned  from  captivity. 
The  town  of  Northampton  had  taken  the  charge  of  him.  His 
situation  was  miserable  :  when  I  found  him  he  had  no  recol- 
lection of  me  ;  but  after  some  conversation  he  had  some  con- 
fused ideas  of  me,  but  no  remembrance  of  his  father.  It 
was  four  years  since  I  had  seen  him  ;  he  was  then  eleven 
years  old.  During  his  absence  he  had  entirely  forgotten  the 
English  language,  spoke  a  little  broken  French,  but  was  per- 
fect in  Indian  He  had  been  with  the  savages  three  years, 
and  one  year  with  the  French  ;  but  his  habits  were  somewhat 
Indian.  He  had  been  with  them  in  their  hunting  excursions 
and  suffered  numerous  hardships  ;  he  could  brandish  a  toma- 
hawk or  bend  the  bow  ;  but  these  habits  wore  off  by  degrees. 
I  carried  him  from  that  place  to  Lancaster,  where  he  lived  a 
few  years  with  Colonel  Aaron  Willard. 

I  lived  in  Lancaster  till  October,  1759,  when  I  returned  to 
old  Charlestown.  The  sight  of  my  former  residence  afforded 
a  strange  mixture  of  joy  and  grief;  while  the  desolations  of 
war,  and  the  loss  of  a  number  of  dear  and  valuable  friends, 
combined  to  give  the  place  an  air  of  melanclioly.  Soon  after 
my  arrival  Major  Rogers  returned  from  an  expedition  against 
the  village  of  St.  Francis,  which  he  had  destroyed,  and  killed 
most  of  the  inhabitants.  He  brought  with  him  a  young  In- 
dian prisoner,  who  stopped  at  my  house :  the  moment  he  saw 
me  he  cried,  "  My  God  !  my  God  !  here  is  my  sister  !  "  It 
was  my  little  brother  Sabatis,  who  formerly  used  to  bring  the 
cows  for  me  when  I  lived  at  my  Indian  masters.  He  was 
transported  to  see  me,  and  declared  that  he  was  still  my 
brother,  and  I  must  be  his  sister.  Poor  fellow  !  The  fortune 
of  war  had  left  him  without  a  single  relation  ;  but  with  his 
country's  enemies  he  could  find  one  who  too  sensibly  fielt  his 
miseries.  I  felt  the  purest  pleasure  in  administering  to  his 
comfort. 


^ 

i 

i 

! 

i 

i 

176 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


I  was  extremely  fortunate  in  receiving,  by  one  of  Major 
Rogers's  men,  a  bundle  of  Mr.  Johnson's  papers,  which  he 
found  in  pillaging  St.  Francis.  The  Indians  took  them  when 
we  were  captivated,  and  they  had  lain  at  St.  Francis  five 
years. 

Sabatis  went  from  Charlestown  to  Crown  Point  with  Major 
Rogei's.  When  he  got  to  Otter  Creek  he  met  my  son  Sylva- 
nus,  who  was  in  the  army  with  Colonel  Willard.  He  recog-. 
nized  him,  and,  clasping  him  in  his  arms, "  My  God!"  says  he, 
"  the  fortune  of  war  ! "  1  shall  ever  remember  this  young 
Indian  with  affection  :  he  had  a  high  sense  of  honor  and  good 
behavior :  he  was  affable,  good  natured,  and  polite. 

My  daughter  Susanna  was  still  in  Canada ;  but  as  I  had 
the  fullest  assurances  that  every  attention  was  paid  to  her 
education  and  welfare  by  her  three  mothers,  I  felt  less  anxie- 
ty than  I  otherwise  might  have  done. 

Every  one  will  imagine  that  I  have  paid  Affliction  her  ut- 
most demand  :  the  pains  of  imprisonment,  the  separation 
from  my  children,  the  keen  sorrow  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  a  butchered  father,  and  the  severe  grief  arising  from  my 
husband's  death,  will  amount  to  a  sum  perhaps  unequalled. 
But  still  my  family  must  be  doomed  to  further  and  severe 
persecutions  from  the  savages.  In  the  commencement  of  the 
summer  of  1766,  my  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Joseph  Willard,  son 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Willard,  of  Rutland,  who  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  in  Lovell's  war,  with  his  wife  and  five  children,  who 
lived  but  two  miles  distant  from  me,  were  taken  by  a  party 
of  Indians.  They  were  carried  much  the  same  route  that  I 
was  to  Montreal.  Their  journey  of  fourteen  days  through 
the  wilderness  was  a  scries  of  miseries  unknown  to  any  but 
those  who  have  suffered  Indian  captivity :  they  lost  two  chil- 
dren, whose  deaths  were  owing  to  savage  barbarity.  The 
history  of  their  captivity  would  almost  equal  my  own ;  but 
the  reader's  commiseration  and  pity  must  now  be  exhausted. 
No  more  of  anguish ;  no  more  of  sufferings. 


CAPTIVITY    OP   MRS.   JOHNSON.  177 

They  arrived  at  Montreal  a  few  days  before  the  French 
surrendered  it  to  the  English,  and  after  four  months'  .bsence 
returned  home,  and  brought  my  daughter  Susa.ina  to  my 
arms.     While  I  rejoiced  at  again  meeting  my  child,  whom  I 
had  not  seen  for  above  five  years,  I  felt  extremely  grateful  to 
the  Mrs.  Jaissons  for  the  affectionate  attention  they  had  be- 
stowed on  her.     As  they  had  received  her  as  their  child,  they 
had  made  their  affluent  fortune  subservient  to  her  best  inter- 
est.    To  give  her  the  accomplishments  of  a  polite  education 
had  been  their  principal  care :  she  had  contracted  an  ardent 
love  for  them,  which  never  will  be  obliterated.   Their  parting 
was  an  affecting  scene  of  tears.     They  never  forgot  her  dur! 
ing  their  lives  :  she  has  eight  letters  from  them,  which  are 
proofs   of   the  warmest  friendship.      My  daughter  did  not 
know  me  at  her  return,  and  spoke  nothing  but  French :  my 
son  spoke  Indian  ;  so  that  my  family  was  a  mixture  of  nations. 
Mr.  Farnsworth,  my  only  fellow-prisoner  whose  return  I 
have  not  mentioned,  came  home  a  little  before. 

Thus,  by  the  goodness  of  Providence,  we  all  returned  in 
the  course  of  six  painful  years  to  the  place  from  whence  we 
were  taken.     The  long  period  of  our  captivity  and  the  sever- 
ity of  our  sufferings  will  be  called  uncommon  and  unprece- 
dented.    Bui  we  even  found  some  friends  to  pity  among  our 
most  persecuting  enemies  ;  and  from  the  various  shapes  in 
which  mankind  appeared,  we  learned  many  valuable  lessons. 
Whether  in  the  wilds  of  Canada,  the  horrid  jails  of  Quebec, 
or  in  our  voyage  to  Europe,  daily  occurrences  happened  to 
convince  us  that  the  passions  of  men  are  as  various  as  their 
complexions.     And  although  my  sufferings  were  often   in- 
creased by  the  selfishness  of  this  world's  spirit,  yet  the  numer- 
ous testimonies  of  generosity  I  received  bid  me  suppress  the 
charge  of  neglect  or  want  of  benevolence.     That  1  have  been 
an  unfortunate  Avoman,  all  will  grant ;  yet  my  misfortunes, 
while  they  enriched  my  experience  and  taught  me  the  value 
of  patience,  have  increased  my  gratitude  to  the  Author  of  all 


178 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


blessings,  whose  goodnesa  and  mercy  have  preserved  my  life 
to  the  present  time. 

During  the  time  of  my  widowhood,  misfortune  and  disap- 
pointment were  my  intimate  companions.     When  New  Eng- 
land was  ruled  by  a  few  men  who  were  the  creatures  of  a 
king,  the  pleasures  of  dissipation  were  preferred  to  the  more 
severe  attention  to  business  ;  and  the  small  voice  of  a  woman 
was  seldom  heard.    Hence,  in  the  settlement  of  my  husband's 
estate,  the  delay  and  perplexity  were  distressing.     I  made 
three  journeys  to  Portsmouth,  fourteen  to  Boston,  and  three 
to  Springfield,  to  effect  the  settlement     Whether  my  captivi- 
ty had  taught  me  to  be  ungrateful,  or  whether  imagination 
formed  a  catalogue  of  evils,  I  will  not  pretend  to  say ;  but 
from  the  year  1754  to  the  present  day,  greater  misfortunes 
have  apparently  fallen  to  my  share  than  to  mankind  in  gen- 
eral, and  the  meteor  happiness  has  eluded  my  grasp.     The 
life  of  a  widow  is  pecuUarly  afflictive ;    but  my  numerous 
and  long  journeys  over  roads  imminently  bad,  and  incidents 
that  seemed  to  baffle  all  my  plans  and  foresight,  render  mine 
more  unfortunate  than  common. 

But  I  found  many  attentive  friends,  whose  assistance  and 
kindness  will  always  claim  my  gratitude.  Colonel  White,  of 
Leominster,  with  whom  I  had  lived  from  the  time  I  was  eight 
years  old  until  I  married,  was  extremely  affectionate  and 
kind :  in  his  house  I  found  a  welcome  home.  Mr.  Samuel 
Ely,  of  Springfield,  who  was  the  friend  of  my  husband,  ren- 
dered me  numerous  kindnesses.  Colonel  Murray,  of  Rutland, 
and  Colonel  (^handler,  of  Worcester,  were  very  friendly  and 
kind.  Mr.  Clarke,  deputy  secretary.  Governor  Pownall,  and 
Governor  Wentworth,  exerted  their  influence  for  me  in  at- 
tempting to  procure  a  grant  from  the  general  assembly. 

In  one  of  my  journeys  to  Portsmouth  I  conversed  v  ith 
Captain  Adams,  who  was  in  Europe  at  the  time  I  was.  He 
informed  me  that  while  there  Mr.  Apthorp  gave  him  fourteen 
pounds  sterling,  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  me  and  my 


/ 


CAPTIVITY    OF    ME8.  JOHNSON. 


179 


ved  my  life 

and  disap- 
New  Eng- 
atures  of  a 
to  the  more 
)f  a  woman 
y  husband's 
y.     I   made 
1,  and  three 
my  captivi- 
imagination 
to  say ;  but 
misfortunes 
ind  in  gen- 
Trasp.     The 
y  numerous 
id  incidents 
render  mine 

sistance  and 
el  White,  of 
!  I  was  eight 
utionate  and 
Mr.  Samuel 
usband,  ren- 
,  of  Rutland, 
friendly  and 
?ownall,  and 
>r  me  in  at- 
;rably. 

iversed  vith 

I  was.     He 

him  fourteen 

me  and  my 


family  to  America.    My  sailing  with  the  convoy  presented 
my  receiving  this  kindness. 

During  the  four  years  of  my  widowhood  I  was  in  quite  an 
unsettled  situation ;    sometimes   receiving  my  children   who 
were  returning   from   captivity,  and  at   others   settling   the 
estate  of  my  deceased  husband.     In  October,  1759,  I  moved 
to  Charlestown  and  took  possession  of  my  patrimony,  consist- 
mg  of  a  house  which  Colonel  Whiting  had  generously  assisted 
my  mother  in  building.     In  copartnership  with  my  brother, 
Moses  WiUard,  I  kept  a  small  store,  which  was  of  service  in 
supportmg  my  family  and  settling  my  husband's  estate.     I 
have  received,  by  petitioning,  from  the  general  assembly  of 
Wew  Hampshire  forty-two  pounds,  to  indemnify  myself  and 
tamily  for  losses  sustained  b;    >ur  cour  try's  enemies.     This 
was  of  eminent  service  to  me.     Mr.  Johnson  left  with  Mr. 
Clmrles   Apthorp,  of  Boston,  the  sum  which  my  son's   re- 
demption cost,  for  Colonel  Schuyler,  who  had  paid  the  same, 
^ut  the  general  assembly  of  Massachusetts  afterwards  paid 
Colonel  Schuyler  his  demand  for  redeeming  my  son. 

By  Mr.  Johnson  I  had  seven  children  :  two  sons  and  a 
daughter  died  in  infancy.  Sylvanus,  with  whom  the  reader 
IS  acquainted,  now  lives  in  Charlestown.  Susanna  married 
Captain  Samuel  Wetherbee,  and  has  been  the  mother  of 
fifteen  children,  among  whom  were  five  at  two  births.  Polly 
married  Colonel  Timothy  Bedel,  of  Haverhill :  she  died  in  Au- 
gust, 1789.  Captive  married  Colonel  George  Kimball.  In  th^ 
year  1762  I  married  Mr.  John  Hastings,  mv  present  husband. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Charlestown.  I  recollect 
to  have  seen  him  when  I  visited  the  place  in  the  year  1744. 
He  suffered  much  by  the  Indians,  and  assisted  in  defending 
tbe  town  during  the  •  .'  ,  By  him  I  have  had  seven  chil- 
dren :  one  daughter  and  t  'ir  sons  died  in  their  infancy.  The- 
odosia  is  i^arried  to  Mr.  S-ephen  Hasham.  Randilla  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two.  She  li^ed  from  her  infancy  with  Mr. 
Samuel  Taylor,  of  Rockingham,  by  whom  she  was  treated 


»'y 


■".7!rnr.a r— ^., 


180 


INDIAN    NAUIIATIVICS. 


with  great  affection.      I  have  had  thirty-nine  grandchildren 
aiid  four  great-grandchildren. 

I  am  now  in  the  winter  of  life,  and  feel  sensibly  the  effects 
of  old  age.     I  live  on  the  same  spot  where  the  Indians  took  us 
from  in  1754 ;  but  tlie  face  of  Nature  has  so  changed  that  old 
savage  fears  are  all  banished.     My  vacant  hours  I  often  em- 
ploy in  reflecting  on  the  various  scenes  that  have  marked  the 
different  stages  of  my  life.     When  viewing  the  present  rising 
generation,  in  the  bloom  of  health  and  enjoying  those  gay 
pleasures  which  shed  their  exhilarating  influence  so  plenti- 
fully in  tl'ii  morn  of  life,  I  look  back  to  my  early  days,  when 
I,  too,  was  happy  and  basked  in  the  sunshine  of  good  fortune. 
Little  do  thay  think  *Mt  the  meridian  of  their  lives  can  pos- 
sibly be  render'  U  miserable  by  captivity  or  a  prison :  as  little, 
too,  did  I  think  that  my  gxlded  prospects  could  be  obscured  : 
but  it  was  the  happy  delusion  of  youth ;  and  I  fervently  wish 
there  was  no  deception.     But  that  Being  who  "  sits  upon  the 
circle  cf  "he  earth  and  views  the  inhabitants  us  grasshoppers  " 
allots  ail  our  ibrtu'ies. 

Al  hough  I  have  drunk  so  largely  from  the  cup  of  sorrow, 
yet  my  present  happiness  is  a  small  compensition.     Twice 
has  my  country  been  ravaged  by  war  since  my  remembrance. 
I  have  detailed  the  share  I  bore  in  the  first :  in  the  last,  al- 
though th3  place  in  which  I  live  was  not  a  field  of  bloody 
battle,  yet  its  vicinity  to  Ticonderoga  and  the  savages  that 
ravaged  the  Coos  country  rendered  it  perilous  and  distress- 
int'.     But  now  no  one  can  set  a  higher  value  on  the  smiles  of 
peace  than  myself.   The  savages  are  driven  beyond  the  lakes, 
and  our  country  has  no  enemies.     The  gloomy  wilderness, 
that  forty  years  ago  secreted  the  Indian  and  the  beast  of  prey, 
has  vanished  away,  and  the  thrifty  farm  smiles  in  its  stead  ; 
the  Sundays,  that  were  then  employed  in  guarding  a  fort,  are 
now  quietly  devoted  to  worship ;  the  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife  have  given  place  to  the  sickle  and  ploughshare ;  and 
prosperous  husbandry  now  thrives  where  the  terrors  of  death 
once  chilled  us  with  fear. 


! '  ii: 


<  -VFJIVITJ     osr    UHB.  JOHNSON. 


181 


children 
e  effects 

I  took  U9 

that  old 
"ten  em- 
rked  the 
nt  rising 
lose  gay 
3  plenti- 
es, when 

fortune, 
can  pos- 

as  little, 
bscured : 
3tly  wish 
upon  the 
loppers  " 

f  sorrow, 
,  Twice 
mbrance. 
e  last,  al- 
)f  bloody 
ages  that 
distress- 
smiles  of 
the  lakes, 
'ilderness, 
5t  of  prey, 
its  stead ; 
I  fort,  are 
I  scalping 
lare  ;  and 
3  of  death 


my  ™e™„ry  ,vi,h  pa«,  -cone.  „,„.„  .ho.vi'g  ,.  tTZXMreu 
Ih.se  ,h,„g.,  yield  „  ki„a  „f  „,el„ncl,„l,.  prea»ure 

I.Kslances  of  longevity  are  remarkable  i„  my  family  Mv 
god  mo,l.er  be/bre  I,er  dea.h,  eould  sa,  J  m^ "  Ar^f 
aug    er,  an,,  go  .„  ,by  d„„g,.,er  ,  for  .hy^daogh.e  ,  dl  l! 

.::,::":;;;:  ^ ' "  ^  ----'  "■'■'^''  ^™-  -*™  - 

Aad  now,  reader,  afler  sincerely  wishing  that  your  davs 
may^be  a,  happy  aa  mine  have  been  unfortunate.Tbid  ;ou 

Charlestown,  June  20,  1798. 


I^^ames  of  Persons  killed  by  the  Indians  in  Charlestown,  No.  4. 

Seth  Putnam,  May  2,  1748. 
Samuel  Farnsworth, 
Joseph  Allen, 

Peter  Perin,  )►  May  24,  1746. 

Aaron  Lyon,  j 

Joseph  Massey,  J 

Jedediah  Winchel,  June  or  July,  1746. 
Philips,  August  3,  1746. 


J   \  October, 


1747. 


Isaac  Goodale, 

Nathaniel  Gould, 

Obadiah  Surtwell,  June,  1749. 

Lieutenant  IMosos  Willard.  June  18,  1756. 

Asahel  8tebbins,  August,  1768. 

Josiah  Kellogg,  1 7.59. 


I 


i 


n 

j 

L 

llfi 


INDIAN    NAIIRATIVES. 


mmber  taken  Prmners  hy  the  Indiam  from  €harle,tovm, 

No.  4. 

Captain  John  Spafford, I        _^    _,.. 
Isaac  Parker,  ^  April  19,  1.46. 

Stephen  Farnsworth,     > 

Anderson,  October,  1747. 

Enos  Stevens,  June  17,  1749. 
James  Johnson, 
Susanna  Johnson, 
Sylvanus  Johnson, 
Susan  Johnson, 
Polly  Johnson, 
Miriam  Willard, 
Peter  Labarree, 
Ebenezer  Farnsworth, 

Sampson  Colefax, 

David  Farnsworth, 

Thomas  Robins, 

Thomas  Robins, 

Asa  Spafford, 

Mrs.  Robins, 

Isaac  Parker, 

David  Hill, 

Joseph  Willard. 


>  August  29, 1754. 


May,  1756. 


[•August,  1758. 


Wife,  and  five  children,  j 


I  June  7,  1760. 


I 


BURNING  OF  ROYALTON. 


As  a  union  of  interest  always  strengthens  the  bonds  of 
affection,  so  a  participation  in  extreme  sufferings  will  never 
fail  to  produce  a  mutual  sensibility.     Prompted  by  a  gener- 
ous glow  of  filial  love  and  affection,  we  generally  take  delight 
in  surveying  whatever  gave  our  forefathers  joy,  and  are  ready 
to  drop  a  sympathetic  tear  when  we  review  the  sufferings 
which  they  have  undergone.     But,  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
sympathy  and  justice,  the  attention  of  the  public  is  often  en- 
grossed with  accounts  of  the  more  dreadful  conflagrations  of 
populous  cities  in  foreign  countries  or  the  defeat  of  armies  in 
the  field  of  carnage  ;  while  the  destruction  of  small  frontier 
settlements  by  the  Indian  tribes  in  our  own  country  is  at  the 
same  time  little  known,  if  not  entirely  forgotten.    Thus  the 
miseries  of  our  neighbors  and  friends  around  us,  whose  bitter 
cries  have  been  heard  in  our  streets,  are  too  often  suffered  to 
pass  unnoticed  down  the  current  of  time  into  the  tomb  of 
oblivion. 

The  burning  of  Royalton  was  an  event  most  inauspicioug 
and  distressing  to  the  first  settlers  of  that  town.  Nor  is  it  a 
little  strange  that,  among  the  numerous  authors  who  have  re- 
corded the  events  of  the  American  revolution,  some  of  them 
have  not  given  place  in  their  works  to  a  more  full  detail  of 
that  afflictive  scene. 

Laboring  under  all  the  difficulties  and  hardships  to  which 
our  infant  settlements  were  subject,  and  striving  by  perse- 
vering industry  to  soar  above  every  obstacle  which  might 
present  itself  to  obstruct  their  progress,  they  had  filled  their 

(183) 


:■ 


1 


184 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


m 


bnrnH  wi.l»  the  fruits  of  tho  hind,  their  stor.-house?  were 
crowded  with  ih.^  comforts  «.f  lil'e,  and  all  nature  seerried  to 
wear  a  propitiou.s  smih'.  All  around  them  promised  prof*- 
perity.  They  were  tar  removed  trom  th.;  noise;  of  war ;  and, 
thou-h  conscious  of  their  dan-er,  fondly  hoped  they  should 
escape  the  ravages  of  a  savage  foe. 

Royalton  was  chartered  in  the  year  1779.  A  considerable 
fiettlement,  however,  had  taken  place  previous  to  that  time 
and  the  town  was  in  a  thriving  condition.  Larga  stocks  ot 
cattle,  which  would  confer  honor  upon  the  enterprise  of 
farmers  in  old  countries,  were   here   seen   grazing  in  their 

fields. 

United  by  common  interest,  living  on  terms  of  friendship, 
and  manifesting  that  each  one  in  a  good  degree  "  loved  his 
neighbor  as  himself,"  harmony  prevailed  in  their  borders, 
socFal  happiness  was  spread  around  their  firesides,,  a  d  plenty 
crowned  their  labors.  But,  alas  !  the  dreadiul  inverse  remains 
to  be  told.  While  joys  possessed  were  turned  to  sorrows, 
their  hopes  for  joys  to  come  were  blasted.  And  as  the  former 
strongly  marked  the  grievous  contrast  between  a  state  of 
prosperity  and  affliction,  the  latter  only  showed  the  fallacy  of 
promising  ourselves  the  future. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  October,  1780,  before  the 
dawn  of  day,  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  were  surprised  by 
the  approach  of  about  three  hundred  Indians  of  various  tribes. 
They  were  led  by  the  Caghnewaga  tribe,  and  had  left  Canada 
intending  to  destroy  Newbury,  a  town  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Vermont,  on  Connecticut  River.  A  British  lieutenant,  by 
the  name  of  Horton,  was  their  chief  commander ;  and  one  Le 
Mott,  a  Frenchman,  was  his  second.  Their  pilot,  or  leader, 
was  a  despicable  villain,  by  the  name  of  Hamilton,  who  had 
been  made  prisoner  by  the  Americans  at  the  taking  of  Bur- 
goyne  in  1777.  He  had  been  at  Newbury  and  Royalton  the 
preceding  summer  on  parole  of  honor,  left  the  latter  place 
with  several  others  under  pretence  of  going  to  survey  lands 


e?  wero 
enjed  to 
c>(l  pros- 
i\Y ;  and, 
y  should 

sidersiblt* 
lat  time, 
itocks  of 
■prise  of 
in  their 

iendf'hip, 
loved  his 

borders, 

d  plenty 
e  remains 

sorrows, 
he  former 

state  of 
fallacy  of 

)efore  the 
prised  by 
ous  tribes, 
ft  Canada 
n  part  of 
tenant,  by 
nd  one  Le 
or  leader, 
,  who  had 
g  of  Bur- 
•yalton  the 
itter  place 
rvey  lands 


' 


BURNING    OF    ttOYALTON. 


m 


^^ 


in  the  northern  part  of  this  state,  and  went  directly  to  the 
enemy.  He  was  doubtless  the  first  instigator  of  those  awful 
depredations  which  were  the  bitter  fruits  of  this  expedition, 
and  which  ought  to  stiirap  his  name  with  infamy  and  disgrace. 
On  their  way  thither,  it  is  said,  they  came  across  several 
men  from  Newbr  ,  who  were  engaged  in  hunting  near  the 
place  where  Mompelier  village  now  stands,  and  made  them 
prisoners.  Tljey  made  known  their  object  to  these  hunters, 
and  inquired  of  them  whether  an  armed  force  was  stationed 
at  Newbury.  Knowing  the  defenceless  state  of  that  town, 
and  hoping  tliey  should  be  abhi  (o  induce  the  Indians  to  re- 
linquish their  object  and  return  to  Canada,  they  told  them 
that  such  an  armed  garrison  was  kept  at  Newbury  as  would 
render  it  extremely  dangerous  for  them  to  approach  —  thus 
artfully  dissembling  by  ambiguity  of  expression  the  true  con- 
dition of  their  fellow-townsmen,  and,  like  Rahab  the  harlot, 
saved  their  father's  house  from  destruction. 

Unwilnng,  however,  that  tlveir  expedition  should  prove 
wholly  fruitlesf.,  they  turned  their  course  to  Royalton.  No 
arguments  wlucii  thti  prisoners  could  adduce  were  sufficient 
to  persuade  them  from  that  deterntination. 

Following  up  Onion  River  us  far  as  the  mouth  of  Stevens's 
branch,  which  empties  into  the  river  at  Montpelier,  they 
steered  their  course  through  Barre,  at  that  time  called  Wil- 
dersburg;  proceeded  up  (iaol  branch,  which  forms  a  part 
of  Stevens's  branch,  and  travelled  over  the  mountains  throujih 
Orange  and  Washington  ;  thence  down  the  first  branch  of 
White  River,  through  Chelsea  and  Tunbridge,  to  Royalton, 
They  laid  in  their  encampment  at  Tunbridge,  not  far  distant 
from  Royalton,  during  tiie  Sabbath,  the  day  preceding  their 
attack  upon  the  latter  place,  for  the  ]tnrj>f)S('  of  concerting 
measures  to  carry  into  efJ'ecL  their  atrociou-^  and  malignant 
designa.  Here  were  matured  those  di.-ihf.Jical  seeds  of  depre- 
dation and  cruelty  from  which  sprung  bitterness,  sorrow,  and 
death. 

16* 


r  ;■.: 


I 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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If  1^ 


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1.8 


U    11.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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WEBSTER.  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  372-4533 


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■■  v.  - 


f/j 


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>;^ 


V> 


1^6 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


As  they  entered  the  town  before'  daylight  appeared  dark- 
ness covered  their  approach,  and  they  were  not  discovered 
till  Monday  morning  at  dawn  of  day,  when  they  entered  the 
house  of  Mr.  John  Hutchinson,  who  resided  not  far  from  the 
line  separating  Royalton  from  Tunbridge.  He  was  totally 
ignorant  of  their  approach  and  wholly  unsuspicious  of  dan- 
ger till  they  burst  the  door  upon  him. 

Here  they  took  Mr.  John  Hutchinson,  and  Abijah  Hutch- 
inson, his  brother,  prisoners,  and  plundered  the  house ;  crossed 
the  first  branch  and  went  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Robert  Havens, 
who  lived  at  a  small  distance  from  Mr.  Hutchinson's.  Mr. 
Havens  had  gone  out  into  his  pasture  in  pursuit  of  his  sheep, 
and  having  ascended  a  hill  about  forty  rods  from  his  house, 
hearing  his  neighbor  Hutchinson's  dog  bark,  halted,  and  stood 
in  pensive  silence.  Here  he  listened  with  deep  anxiety  to 
know  the  extent  of  the  evil  he  feared.  But,  alas !  he  little 
expected  to  find  a  herd  of  savage  men.  It  was  his  only  fear 
that  some  voracious  animal  was  among  his  sheep,  which  so 
disturbed  the  watchful  dog.  While  he  listened  in  silence, 
with  his  thoughts  suspended,  he  heard  a  noise  as  of  sheep 
or  cattle  running  with  full  speed  through  the  water.  Casting 
his  eye  to  the  west,  towards  his  own  dwelling,  he  beheld  a 
company  of  Indians  just  entering  the  door.  Seeing  his  own 
danger,  he  immediately  laid  down  under  a  log  and  hid  himself 
from  their  sight.  But  he  could  not  hide  sorrow  from  his 
mind.  Here  he  wept.  Tears  trickling  down  his  withered 
cheeks  bespoke  the  anguish  of  his  soul  while  he  thought  upon 
the  distress  of  his  family.  With  groanings  unutterable  he 
lay  a  while,  heard  the  piercing  shrieks  of  his  beloved  wife, 
and  saw  his  sons  escaping  for  their  lives. 

Laden  with  the  weight  of  years,  decrepit  and  infirm,  he 
was  sensible  if  he  appeared  in  sight  it  Avould  prove  hie  death. 
He  therefore  resolved  not  to  move  until  a  favorable  opportu- 
nity presented.  His  son,  Dotiiel  Havens,  and  Thomas  Pem- 
ber,  were  in  the  house,  and  made  their  nppearanoe  at  the  door 


BURNING    OF    ROYALTON. 


187 


3d  dark- 
scovered 
ered  the 
from  the 
IS  totally 
of  dan- 

i  Hutch- 
;  crossed 

Havens, 
I's.  Mr. 
lis  sheep, 
is  house, 
ind  stood 
nxiety  to 

he  little 
only  fear 
which  BO 
)  silence, 

of  sheep 

Casting 
beheld  a 

his  own 
1  himself 
from  his 

withered 
ight  upon 
jrable  he 
ved  wife, 

afirm,  he 
[lie  death, 
opportu- 
las  Pem- 
t  the  door 


a  little  before  the  Indians  came  up.     Beholding  the  foe  but 
few  rods  distant,  they  ran  for  their  lives.     Daniel   Havens 
made  his  escape  by  throwing  himself  over  a  hedge  fence 
down  the  bank  of  the  branch  and  crawling  under  a  log,  al- 
though a  large  number  of  the  Indians  passed  directly  over  it 
in  pursuit  of  him.     Who  can  tell  the  fears  that  agifated  his 
bosom  while  these  savage  pursuers  stepped  upon  the  log  under 
which  he  lay?  and  who  can  tell  the  joys  he  felt  when  he 
saw  them  pass  off,  leaving  him  in  safety  ?  — a  quick  transition 
from  painful  fear  and  imminent  danger  to  joyful  peace  and 
calm  retirement.     They  pursued  Thomas  Pember  till  they 
came  so  near  as  to  throw  a  spear  at  him,  which  pierced  his 
body  and  put  an  end  to  his  existence.     He  ran   some  time, 
however,  after  he  was  wounded,  till  by  loss  of  blood  he  fainted, 
fell,  and  was  unable  to  proceed  farther.     The  savage  mon- 
sters came  up,  several  times  thrust  a  spear  through  his  body, 
took  off  his  scalp,  and  left  him  food  for  worms.     While  they 
were  tearing  his  scalp  from  his  head,  how  did  his  dying  groans 
pierce  the  skies  and  call  on  Him  who  holds  the  scales  of  jus- 
tice to  mark  their  cruelty  and  avenge  his  blood  ! 

He  had  spent  the  night  previous  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Ha- 
vens, engaged  in  amorous  conversation  with  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Havens,  who  was  his  choice  companion,  the  intended' 
partner  of  his  life. 

By  imagination  we  view  the  fair  survivor  surrounded  by 
the  savage  tribe,  whose  frightful  aspect  threatened  ruin  ;  her 
soul  overwhelmed  with  fear,  and  stung  with  grief,  bereft  of 
her  dearest  friend. 

They  made  the  house  of  Mr.  Havens  their  rallying  point, 
or  post  of  observation,  and  stationed  a  part  of  their  company 
there  to  guard  their  baggage  and  make  preparations  for  re- 
treat when  they  had  completed  their  work  of  destruction. 
Like  the  messenger  of  death,  silent  and  merciless,  they  were 
scarcely  seen  till  felt ;  or,  if  seen,  filied  the  mind  with  terror, 
nor  often   afforded   opportunity  for   escape.      Moving   with 


188 


INDIAN   NAKBATIVEI. 


violent  steps,  they  proceeded  down  the  first  branch  to  its  mouth ; 
while  a  number,  armed  with  spears,  led  the  van,  and  were  fol- 
lowed by  others,  armed  with  muskets  and  scalping  knives. 
The  former  they  called  runners,  who  were  directed  to  kill  all 
those  who  should  be  overtaken  in  an  attempt  to  escape ;  while 
the  latter  were  denominated  gunners,  took  charge  of  the  pris- 
oners, and  scalped  those  who  were  killed. 

They  had  not  proceeded  far  before  a  young  man,  by  the 
name  of  Elias  Button,  being  ignorant  of  their  approach,  made 
his  appearance  in  the  road  but  a  few  rods  from  them.  Espy- 
ing his  danger,  he  turned  and  ran  with  the  greatest  possible 
speed  in  his  power  to  escape  their  cruel  hands.  The  savage 
tribe  pursued  him  with  their  usual  agility,  soon  overtook  the 
trembling  youth,  pierced  his  body  with  their  spears,  took  off 
his  scalp,  and  left  him  weltering  in  his  gore.  Young,  vigor- 
ous, and  healthy,  and  blessed  with  the  brightest  hopes  of  long 
life  and  good  days,  he  was  overtaken  by  the  merciless  stroke 
of  death  without  having  a  minute's  warning.  Innocence  and 
bravery  were  no  shield,  nor  did  activity  secure  him  a  safe 

retreat. 

That  they  might  be  enabled  to  fall  upon  the  inhabitants 
unawares,  and  thereby  secure  a  greater  number  of  prisoners 
as  well  as  procure  a  greater  quantity  of  plunder,  they  kept 
profound  silence  till  they  hac  tirrived  at  the  mouth  of  the 

branch. 

After  killing  Pember  and  Button  and  taking  such  plunder 
as  most  pleased  their  fancy,  they  proceeded  to  the  house  of 
Joseph  Kneeland,  who  resided  about  half  a  mile  distant  from 
the  house  of  Mr.  Havens.  Here  they  found  Messrs.  Simeon 
Belknap,  Giles  Gibbs,  and  Jonathan  Brown,  together  with 
Joseph  Kneeland  and  his  aged  futher,  all  of  whom  they  made 
prisoners.  They  then  went  to  the  liouse  of  Mr.  Elias  Curtis, 
where  they  took  Mr.  Curtis.  John  Kent,  and  Peter  Mason. 
Mrs.  Curtis  had  just  waked  from  the  slumbers  of  the  night, 
and  was  about  dressing  herself  as  she  sat  upon  her  bed,  when 


BURNING    OF   ROYALTON. 


189 


mouth ; 
rere  fol- 

knives. 
>  kill  aU 
B ;  while 
iie  pris- 

I,  by  the 
;h,  made 
Espy- 
possible 
\  savage 
took  the 
took  off 
g,  vigor- 
)  of  long 
IS  stroke 
ence  and 
D  a  safe 

[labitants 
prisoners 
hey  kept 
h  of  the 

:  plunder 
tiouse  of 
ant  from 
.  Simeon 
her  with 
ley  made 
ts  Curtis, 
p  Mason. 
be  night, 
»ed,  when 


the  Ravage  monsters  entered  the  door ;  and  one  of  them  in- 
stantly fiew  at  her,  with  a  large  knife  in  his  hand,  and  seized 
her  by  the  neck,  apparently  intending  to  cut  her  throat. 
While  in  the  very  attitude  of  inflicting  the  fatal  wound  the 
murderous  wretch  discovered  a  string  of  gold  beads  around 
her  neck,  which  attracted  his  attention  and  prevented  the 
dreadful  stroke  of  death.  Thus  his  avidity  for  gold  allayed 
his  thirst  for  human  blood.  His  raging  passions  were  sud- 
denly cooled ;  curiosity  restrained  his  vengeance  and  spared 
the  life  of  the  friglitened  object  of  his  cruelty.  He  had  j)ut 
the  knife  to  her  throat,  and  eternity  seemed  open  to  her  view ; 
but  instead  of  taking  her  life  he  only  took  her  beads,  and  left 
her  rejoicing  at  her  deliverance.  The  barbarous  looks  of  the 
wicked  crew  bespoke  their  malignant  designs,  and  caused 
horror  and  dismay  to  fill  the  minds  of  ati  who  beheld  them. 
But,  alas  !  who  can  tell  what  horror  thrilled  the  bosom  of  this 
trembling  woman  ?  What  fearful  pangs  were  made  to  pierce 
her  soul !  Behold  the  t'\wny  wretch,  with  countenance  wild 
and  awful  grimaces,  standing  by  her  bedside,  holding  her  by 
the  throat  with  one  hand,  and  the  weapon  of  death  in  the 
other  !  See  standing  around  her  a  crowd  of  brutal  savages, 
the  sons  of  violence,  foul  tormentors  !  In  vain  do  I  attempt 
to  paint  the  scene.  Nor  will  I  pretend  to  describe  the  feel- 
ings of  a  kind  and  tender  mother,  who,  reposing  in  the  arms 
of  sleep,  with  her  infant  at  her  bosom,  is  roused  from  her 
slumbers  by  the  approach  of  a  tribe  of  savage  Indians  at  her 
bedside. 

To  prevent  an  alarm  from  being  sounded  abroad,  they  com- 
manded the  prisonars  to  keep  silence  on  pain  of  death.  While 
the  afflicted  inhabitants  beheld  their  property  wasted  and 
their  lives  exposed  to  the  arrows  of  death,  it  caused  their 
hearts  to  swell  with  grief.  But  they  were  debarred  the  priv- 
ilege of  making  known  their  sufferings  to  their  nearest  friends, 
or  even  to  pour  out  their  cries  of  distress,  while  surrounded 
by  the  savage  band,  whose  malevolent  appearance  could  not 


wm 


INDIAN   NABRATIVE8. 


fail  to  spread  fear  and  distress  in  every  bosom.  They  plun- 
dered every  house  they  found  till  they  arrived  at  the  mouth 
of  the  branch.  Here  the  commander,  a  British  ofl&cer,  took 
his  stand  with  a  small  party  of  Indians,  while  some  went  up 
and  others  down  on  each  side  of  the  river  to  complete  the 
work  of  destruction.  They  had  already  taken  several  horses, 
which  some  of  them  rode,  to  facilitate  their  march  and  enable 
them  to  overtake  those  who  attempted  to  make  their  escape. 
Frightened  at  the  horrible  appearance  of  thei-  riders,  who 
were  in  no  way  qualified  to  manage  them,,  the  horses  served 
rather  to  impede  than  hasten  their  progress. 

Instigated  by  "  the  powers  of  darkness,"  fired  with  rage, 
eager  to  obtain  that  booty  which  they  acquired  by  the  pillage 
of  houses,  and  fearful,  at  the  same  time,  that  they  sb  )uld 
themselves  fall  a  prey  to  the  American  forces,  they  pursued 
their  ravages  with  infuriated  zeal,  and  violence  and  horror 
attended  their  movement. 

General  Elias  Stevens,  who  resided  in  the  first  house  on 
the  river  above  the  mouth  of  the  branch,  had  gone  down  the 
river  about  two  miles,  and  was  engaged  at  work  with  his  oxen 
and  cart.  While  busily  employed  loading  his  cart,  casting  his 
eye  up  the  river  he  beheld  a  man  approaching,  bareheaded, 
with  his  horse  upon  the  run,  who,  seeing  General  Stevens, 
cried  out,  "  For  God's  sake,  turn  out  your  oxen,  for  the  In- 
dian's are  at  the  mill ! "  *  General  Stevens  hastened  to  un- 
yoke his  oxen,  turned  them  out,  and  immediately  mounted  his 
horse  and  started  to  return  to  his  family,  filled  with  fearful 
apprehensions  for  the  fate  of  his  beloved  wife  and  tender 
offspring.  He  had  left  them  in  apparent  safety,  reposing  in 
the  arms  of  sleep.  Having  proceeded  on  his  return  about 
half  way  home  he  met  Captain  Joseph  Parkhurst,  who  in- 
formed him  that  the  Indians  were  but  a  few  rods  distant,  in 


*  The  mills  to  which  he  referred,  owned  by  a  Mr.  Morgan,  were 
situated  on  the  first  branch,  near  its  mouth. 


11 


[ 


BUBXVINa   OF   BOYALTON. 


191 


swift  pursuit  down  the  river,  and  that,  unless  he  rpturned  im- 
mediately, he  would  inevitably  fall  into  their  hands. 

Apprised  of  his  danger,  he  turned  and  accompanied  the 
captain  down  the  river.  Conjugal  and  parental  affection 
alone  can  suggest  to  the  imagination  of  the  reader  what  were 
the  feelings  of  General  Stevens  when  compelled  for  his  own 
safety  to  leave  the  wife  of  his  bosom  and  their  little  ones  to 
the  mercy  of  a  savage  foe.  What  pains  did  he  feel  when  he 
found  himself  deprived  of  all  possible  means  to  afford  them 
relief !  Nor  could  he  expect  a  more  favorable  event  than  to 
find  them  all  sacrificed  at  the  shrine  of  savage  barbarity. 
Who,  not  totally  devoid  of  sympathy,  can  refrain  to  drop  a 
tear  as  he  reflects  upon  those  painful  emotions  which  agitated 
the  general's  breast  when  he  was  forced  to  turn  his  back  upon 
his  beloved  family  while  thus  exposed  to  danger  ?  Indeed, 
it  was  his  only  source  of  consolation  that  he  might  be  able  to 
afford  assistance  to  his  defenceless  neighbors ;  and  as  they 
soon  came  to  the  house  of  Deacon  Daniel  Rix,  he  there  found 
opportunity  to  lend  the  hand  of  pity.  General  Stevens  took 
Mrs.  Rix  and  two  or  three  children  with  him  upon  his  horse ; 
Captain  Park  hurst  took  Mrs.  Benton  and  several  children 
upon  his  horse  with  him ;  and  they  all  rode  off  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible, accompanied  by  Deacon  Rix  and  several  others  on  foot, 
till  they  arrived  at  the  place  where  the  general  first  received 
the  alarm.  Filled  with  anxiety  for  his  family,  and  not  hav- 
ing seen  any  Indians,  General  Stevens  here  concluded  again 
to  return,  hoping  he  should  be  able  to  reach  home  in  time  to 
secure  his  household  from  danger  before  the  Indians  arrived. 
Leaving  Mrs.  Rbc  and  children  hi  the  care  of  a  Mr.  Burroughs, 
he  started  for  home,  and  had  proceeded  about  half  a  mile 
when  he  Bisoovered  the  Indians  in  the  road  ahead  of  him, 
but  a  few  rods  distant.  He  quickly  turned  about,  hastened 
his  retreat,  soon  overtook  the  company  he  had  left,  and  en- 
treated them  immediately  to  leave  the  road  and  take  to  the 
woods,  to  prevent  being  taken.    Those  who  were  on  foot 


192 


INDIAN    NAURAXIVKS.  , 


jumped  over  the  fence,  hastened  to  the  woods  out  of  sight  of 
the  Indians,  where  they  remained  in  safety,  undiscovered  by 
the  savage  foe,  who  kept  the  road  in  pursuit  of  General  Ste- 
vens, lie  passed  down  the  road  about  half  a  mile,  and  came 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Tilly  Parkhurst,  his  father-in-law.  See- 
ing his  sister  engaged  in  milking  by  the  barn,  he  "  told  her  to 
leave  her  cow  immediately,  or  the  Indians  would  have  her," 
and  left  her  to  secure  her  own  retreat.  They  v/ere  now  in 
plain  sight,  not  more  than  eighty  or  a  hundred  rods  off.  The 
road  was  full  of  them,  running  Hke  bloodhounds.  The  gen- 
eral rode  to  the  house,  told  them  to  run  for  their  lives,  and 
proceeded  to  warn  others  who  lived  contiguous.  By  this 
time  the  way  was  filled  with  men,  women,  and  children,  and 
a  large  body  of  Indians  in  open  view  but  just  behind  them. 
The  savage  tribe  now  began  to  make  the  surrounding  wilder- 
ness reecho  with  their  frightful  yells.  Frightened  and  alarmed 
for  their  safety,  children  clung  to  iheir  parents ;  and  half-dia- 
tracted  mothers,  filled  with  fearful  appr(;hensions  of  approach- 
ing destruction,  were  heard  to  make  the  air  resound  with  their 
cries  of  distress.  General  Stevens  endeavored  to  get  them 
into  the  woods,  out  of  sight  of  the  Indians.  Fear  had  usurped 
the  power  of  reason,  and  Wisdom's  voice  was  drowned  in  the 
torrent  of  distraction.  There  was  no  time  for  argument :  all 
was  at  stake :  the  enemy  hard  by,  and  fast  approaching : 
defenceless  mothers,  with  helpless  infants  in  their  arms,  flee- 
ing for  their  lives.  Despair  was  spread  before  them,  while 
the  roaring  flood  of  destruction  seemed  rolling  behind  them. 
Few  could  be  persuaded  to  go  into  the  woods ;  and  most  of 
them  kept  the  road  till  they  larrived  at  the  house  of  Captain 
E.  Parkhurst,  in  Sharon.  Here  they  halted  a  moment  to 
take  breath,  hoping  they  should  not  be  pursued  any  far- 
ther. The  Indians,  being  taken  up  in  plundering  the  houses, 
had  now  fallen  considerably  in  the  rear.  But  the  unhappy 
victims  of  distress  had  not  long  been  here  when  the  cruel 
pursuers  again  appeared  in  sight. 


BURNING   OP   ROTALTON. 


198 


The 


Screaming  and  crying  now  witnessed  the  horrors  of  that 
dreadful  scene.     Groans  and  tears  bespoke  the  feehngs  of  a 
heart  agitated  with  fear  and  swollen  with  grief.     There  was 
no  t.me  to  be  lost.     While  they  waited  they  waited  for  de- 
struction.     Children  hanging  to  their  mothers'  clothes  ;  moth- 
ers  inquiring  what  they  should  do,  and  calling  for  assistance  ; 
floods  of  tears  and  piercing  shrieks,  -  all  presented  to  view 
a  most  painful  scene.     Seeing  the  Indians  approaching  with 
hideous  yells  that  thrilled  the  heart  of  every  one,  General 
Stevens  put  his  mother  and  his  sister  upon  his  own  horse. 
Captain  Joseph  Parkhurst  put  Mrs.  Rix  and  three  of  her 
diildren  upon  another  horse,  without  a  bridle,  and  ordered 
them  to  hasten  their  flight.     There  yet  remained  the  wife 
ot  Captain  E.  Parkhurst,  who  stood  in  the  most  critical  situ- 
ation m  which  a  woman  can  be  placed,  begging  and  crying 
for  help,  surrounded  by  six  small  children  clinging  to  her 
clothes  and  pleading  with  her  for  protection.     Alas!   how 
awful  was  the  spectacle,  how  affecting  the  scene,  to  see  a 
woman  m  this  deplorable  condition  pleading  for  succor  when 
none  could  help,  when  safety  and  support  had  fled  and  dan- 
gers were  rushing  upon  her  1     A  heart  not  devoid  of  sympa- 
thy  could  not  fail  to  weep.     Conscious  of  her  wretched  sit- 
uation, feeling  for  her  dear  children,  being  told  there  was  no 
probability  for  her  escape,  gathering  her  little  ones  around 
her  she  wept  in  bitterness  of  soul ;  tears  of  pity  ran  down 
her  cheeks  while  she   waited  the  approach  of   the  savage 
tribe  to  inflict  upon  her  whatever  malice  could  invent  or 
inhumanity  devise. 

Her  husband,  to  whom  she  fain  would  have  looked  for  pro- 
tection, was  gone  from  home  when  all  her  woes  fell  upon  her 
Well  might  she  say,  «  Therefore  are  my  loins  filled  with  pain  • 
pangs  have  taken  hold  upon  me  as  the  pangs  of  a  woman 
that  travaileth  ;  my  heart  panted  ;  fearfulness  affrighted  me  ; 
^e  night  of  my  pleasure  hath  he  turned  into  fear  unto  me'' 
While  Mrs.  Parkhurst  saw  her  mends  and  neighbors  fleeing 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 

from  her,  and  beheld  the  Indians  approaching  with  imppfuouB 
step,  her  bosom  throbbed  with  anguish  ;  horror  seized  her 
soul ;  and  death,  immedinte  death,  both  to  her  and  her  children, 
«  stood  thick  around  her,"  threatening  to  thrust  his  dagger 
into  her  aching  heart.  There  was  no  time  to  decide  on  the 
priority  of  claims  to  pity  or  the  demands  of  justice.  Those 
who  were  nearest  at  hand  first  received  assistance  ;  not,  how- 
ever, without  regard  to  that  affection  which  arises  from  con- 
sanguinity or  matrimonial  connection  ;  and  these  relations  not 
only  unite  the  hearts  but  connect  the  hands  in  scenes  of  dis- 
tress. 

At  the  time  General  Stevens  put  his  mother  and  his  sister 
upon  his  horse  the  Indians  were  not  eight  rods  from  him : 
they,  in  company  with  Mrs.  Rix  and  her  children,  rode  off 
as  fast  as  possible  :  the  general  followed  with  several  others 
on  foot.     Fart  of  the  Indians  pursued  them,  while  others  en- 
tered the  house  and  plundered  it  of  its  furniture.     They  took 
her  eldest  son  from  her ;  then  ordered  her,  with  the  rest  of  her 
children,  to  leave  the  house.     She  accordingly  repaired  into 
the  fields  back  of  the  house  with  five  of  her  children,  and 
remained  in  safety  till  they  had  left  the  place.     Soon  after 
General  Stevens  started  his  dog  came  in  his  way  and  caused 
him  to  stumble  and  fall,  which  so  retarded  his  progress  that 
he  was  obliged  to  flee  to  the  woods  for  safety,  leaving  the 
women  and  children  to  make  the  best  of  their  retreat.     The 
Indians  pursued  down  the  road  after  them  with  frightful  yells, 
and  soon  overtook  those  who  were  on  foot.     They  took  Gard- 
ner Rix,  son  of  Deacon  Rix,*  a  boy  about  fourteen  years  old, 
just  at  the  heels  of  his  mother's  horse,  while  she  was  com- 
pelled to  witness  the  painful  sight.     Alas  !  what  distresr  and 
horror  filled  her  bosom,  when  she,  with  three  of  her  children 
no  less  dear  than  herself,  fleeing  from  the  savage  foe,  mount- 
ed upon  a  horse  snorting  with  fear,  having  nothing  but  a 

•  Captain  Rix  then  lived  where  Mr,  Phelps  now  lives,  1863. 


BURNING   OF   ROYALTON. 


195 


pctuous 

zed  her 

ihildren, 

dagger 

on  the 

Those 

ot,  how- 

om  con- 

tions  not 

s  of  dis- 

lis  sister 
ora  him : 
rode  ofT 
il  others 
thers  en- 
hey  took 
58t  of  her 
lired  into 
ren,  and 
oon  after 
id  caused 
jress  that 
iving  the 
at.     The 
tful  yells, 
ok  Gard- 
years  old, 
was  com- 
5tresr  and 
'  children 
>e,  mount- 
ing hut  a 

,  1863. 


pocket  handkerchief  in  his  mouth  for  a  bridle,  saw  her  wea- 
ried son,  faint  for  want  of  breath,  fall  a  captive  to  this  barba- 
rous crew  !    Cruel  fate  !     The  trembling  youth,  overwhelmed 
with  fear  and  bathed  in  tears,  was  now  torn  from  his  tender 
parents  and  compelled  to  roam  the  wilderness  to  unknown 
regions.     Nor  was  the  disconsolate  mother,  with  her  other 
little  ones,  left  in  a  much  more  safe  condition.     Exposed  and 
expecting  every  step  to  fall  to  the  ground,  which,  if  it  proved 
not  their  death,  would  leave  them  a  prey  to  the  savage  mon- 
sters, no  tongue  can  tell  the  pains  she  felt,  nor  pen  describe 
the  horrors  of  her  soul.     To  behold  her  little  son,  while  flee- 
ing ibr  his  life,  fall  into  the  hands  of  these  sons  of  cruelty, 
what  kind  and  tender  mother  would  not  feel  her  heart  to 
bleed  ?    May  we  not  listen  to  the  voice  of  Imagination,  and 
hear  her  say,  — 

"  O  infinite  distress  !  such  raging  grief 
Should  command  pity,  and  despair  relief; 
Passion,  methinks,  should  rise  from  all  my  groans, 
Give  sense  to  rocks  and  sympathy  to  stones  "  ? 

The  Indians  pursued  the  women  and  children  as  far  as  the 
house  of  Mr.  Benedict,  the  distance  of  about  a  mile.  They 
effected  their  escape,  though  surrounded  with  dangers  and 
pursued  with  impetuous  and  clamorous  steps.  Here  they 
discovered  Mr.  Benedict  on  the  opposite  side  of  a  stream, 
called  Broad  Brook,  which  ran  near  the  house.  They  beck- 
oned to  have  him  come  over  to  them  :  choosing,  however,  not 
to  hazard  the  consequences  of  yielding  obedience  to  their  re- 
quest, he  turned  and  ran  a  short  distance  and  hid  himself 
under  a  log.  He  had  not  long  been  in  this  situation  when 
these  bloodthirsty  wretches  came  and  stood  upon  the  same 
log,  and  were  heard  by  him  to  exclaim,  in  angry  tone,  "  If 
we  could  hnd  him  he  should  feel  the  tomahawk." 

After  standing  upon  the  log  some  time  and  endeavoring  to 
espy  ttie  concealed,  trembling  object  of  their  pursuit,  they  left 


IM 


nfI>TAIf   MARUATIV»»» 


him  and  returned  to  th«  house.      Ah,  what  joy  flllod  W. 
bosom  when  he  saw  thene  messengers  of  death   pass  away 
leaving  him  in  safety  !     How  must  his  heart  have  glowed 
with  gratitude  towards  the  -  great  Preserver  of  men '  at  this 
unexpected  deliverance  from  the  most  imminent  danger  1 

His  joys,  however,  were  not  unmingled  with  sorrow,  as  the 
fell  destroyers  were  still  nt  his  house  committing  ravages  and 
wasting  his  property.  But  no  man  can  be  supposed  to  put 
his  property  in  competition  with  his  life. 

The  Indians  pursued  down  the  river  about  forty  rods  far- 
ther,  where  they  made  a  young  man,  by  the  name  of  Avery, 
prisoner,  ntid  then  concluded  to  return. 

While  they  were  at  the  house  of  Tilly  Parkburst,  afore- 
mentioned, (which  was  about  six  miles  from  the  place  they 
entbred  Royalton,)  his  son,  Phineas  Parkburst,  who  had  been 
to  alarm  the  people  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  just  as  he 
entered  the  stream  on  his  return  discovered  the  Indians  at 
his  father's  door.     Finding  himself  in  danger  he  immediately 
turned  to  go  back ;  and  the  Indians  just  at  this  time  happened 
to  see  him,  and  fired  upon  him.     This  was  the  first  gun  they 
fired  after  they  entered  the  town.     The  ball  entered  his  back, 
went  through  his  body,  came  out  under  his  ribs,  and  lodged  in 
the  skin :  notwithstanding  the  wound*  he  was,  however,  able 
to  ride,  and  continued  his  retreat  to  Lebanon,  in  the  State  oi 
New  Hampshire,  the  distance  of  about  sixteen  miles,  with 
very  little  stop,  supporting  the  ball  between  his  fingers.     He 
now  resides  in  that  town,  and  sustains  the  character  of  a  use- 
ful physician,  and  an  industrious,  independent  farmer. 

That  party  of  Indians  which  went  down  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river  extended  their  ravages  as  far  as  the  house  of  Cap- 
tain Gilbert,  in  Sharon,  where  a  public  house  is  now  kept  by 
Captain  Daiia.  Here  they  took  a  nephew  of  Captain  Gil- 
bert, by  the  name  of  Nathaniel  Gilbert,  a  boy  about  fifteen 
years  of  age.  They  now  resolved  to  return,  and  commenced 
that  waste  of  property  which  tracked  their  progreaa.    Aa 


BUJUriMO    OF   ROTALTON. 


197 


led  hit 
away, 
glowed 
at  this 
r\ 

,  as  the 
geH  and 
1  to  put 

ods  far- 
Avery, 

t,  afore- 
Rce  they 
lad  been 
ist  as  he 
dians  at 
lediately 
lappened 
;un  they 
his  back, 
lodged  in 
ver,  able 
State  ol 
les,  with 
ers.     He 
of  a  use- 
?. 

3t  side  o£ 
5  of  Cap- 
f  kept  by 
tain  Gil- 
ut  fifteen 
mmenced 
resa^    As 


they  retraced  their  steps,  they  set  fire  to  all  the  buildings 
they  found  of  every  description.  They  spread  desolation  and 
distress  wherever  they  went.  Houses  filled  with  furniture 
and  family  supplies  for  the  winter,  barns  stored  with  the 
fruits  of  industry,  and  fields  stocked  with  herds  of  cattle  were 
all  laid  waste. 

They  shot  and  killed  fourteen  fat  oxen  in  one  yard,  which, 
in  consequence  of  the  inhabitants  being  dispersed,  were  whol- 
ly lost.     Cows,  sheep,  and  hogs,  and,  indeed,  every  creature 
designed  by  the  God  of  nature  to  supply  the  wants  of  raan, 
which  came  within  their  sight,  fell  a  prey  to  these  dreadful 
spoilers.     Parents  torn  from  their  children,  husbands  sepa- 
rated from  their  wives,  and  children  snatched   from  their 
parents  presented  to  view  an  indescribable  scene  of  wretch- 
edness and  distress.   Some  were  driven  from  their  once  peace- 
ful habitations  into  the  adjacent  wilderness  for  safety,  there  to 
wait  the  destruction  of  their  property ;  stung  with  the  painful 
reflection  that  their  friends,  perhaps  a  kind  father  and  affec- 
tionate brother,  were  made  captives,  and  compelled  to  travel 
with  a  tawny  herd  of  savage  men  into  the  wild  regions  of  the 
north,  to  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  enemies  and  undergo 
the  fatigues  and  dangers  of  a  wretched  captivity ;  or,  what 
was  scarcely  more  to  be  deplored,  learn  with  pain  that  they 
had  fallen  the  unhappy  victims  to  the  relentless  t'ury  of  the 
savage  tribe,  and  were  weltering  in  their  gore  where  there 
was  no  eye  to  pity  or  friendly  hand  to  admiuster  relief. 

The  third  party  of  Indians  who  went  up  the  river  first 
came  to  the  house  of  General  Stevens.  Daniel  Havens,  whose 
escape  I  have  mentioned,  went  directly  there  and  warned  the 
family  of  their  danger.  Trembling  with  fear,  he  only  stepped 
into  the  house,  told  them  that  » the  Indians  were  as  thick  as 
the  d — 1  at  their  house,"  and  turned  and  went  directly  out, 
leaving  the  family  to  secure  their  own  retreat. 

Mrs.  Stevens  and  the  family  were  in  bed  excepting  her 
husband,  who,  as  before  stated,  had  gone  down  the  river,  about 
17* 


19* 


INDIAN   NARRATIVBU. 


two  miles  from  home.  She  immediately  arose  from  her  bed, 
flung  some  loose  clothes  over  her,  took  up  her  child,  and  had 
scarcely  got  to  the  Hre  when  a  Inrge  body  of  Indians  rushed 
in  at  the  door.  They  immediately  ransacked  the  house  in 
search  of  men,  and  then  took  the  beds  and  bedding,  carried 
them  out  of  doors,  cut  open  the  bed  ticks,  and  threw  the  feath- 
ers into  the  air.  This  made  them  sport  enough.  Nor  did 
they  fail  to  manifest  their  infernal  gratification  by  their  tar- 
tarean  shouts  and  disingenuous  conduct. 

Mrs.  Stevens  entreated  them  to  let  her  have  some  clothea 
for  herself  and  child ;  but  her  entreaties  were  in  vain.     They 
were  deaf  to  thfl  calls  of  the  needy  and  disregarded  the  de- 
mands of  justice.     Her  cries  reached  their  ears ;  bul  nothing 
could  excite  one  single  glow  of  sympathy.     Her  destitute 
and  suffering  condition  was  plain  before  their  eyes  ;  but  they 
were  blind  to  objects  of  compassion.     Alas  !   what  bitterness 
of  soul,  what  anguish,  what  heartren'^ng  pangs  of  fear  dis- 
tressed her  tender  bosom!      Surrounded  by  these  pitiless, 
terrific  monsters  in  human  shape,  with  her  little  offspring  in 
her  arms,  whose  piercing  shrieks  and  lender  age  called  for 
compassion ;  exposed  to  th^  laging  fire  of  savage  jealousy, 
unquenchable  by  a  mother's  tears  ;  anxious  for  the  safety  and 
mourning  the  absence  of  her  bosom  friend,  the  husband  of 
her  youth,—  it  is  beyond  the  powers  of  imagination  to  conceive 
or  language  to  express  the  sorrows  of  her  heart. 

At  one  moment  securely  reposing  in  the  arms  of  sleep,  with 
her  darling  infant  at  her  breast ;  the  next  amid  a  savage 
crew,  whosl  wicked  hands  were  employed  in  spreading  deso- 
lation and  mischief,  whose  mortal  rage  exposed  her  to  the 
arrows  of  death.  Afler  plundering  the  house  they  told  Mrs. 
Stevens  to  "begone,  or  they  would  burn."  She  had  been 
afraid  to  make  any  attempt  to  escap'^,  but  now  gladly  em- 
braced the  opportunity.  She  hastened  into  the  adjacent  wil- 
derness,  carrying  her  child,  where  she  tarried  till  the  Indians 
had  left  the  town. 


r 


BURNING   OF  ROYALTON. 


199 


ber  bed, 
and  had 
rushed 
lOUse  in 
,  carried 
le  feath- 
Nor  did 
heir  tar- 

e  clothea 
1.    They 
.  the  de- 
L  nothing 
destitute 
but  they 
jitterness 
fear  dis- 
!  pitiless, 
spring  in 
jailed  for 
jealousy, 
afety  and 
isband  of 
)  conceive 

leep,  with 
a  savage 
iliug  deso- 
ler  to  the 
told  Mrs. 
had  been 
;ladly  em- 
jacent  wil* 
he  Indians 


A  boy  by  the  nan.e  of  Daniel  Waller,  about  fourteen  years 
old,  who  l.ved  with  General  Stevens,  hearing  the  alarm  given 
by  Mr.  Plavens,  set  out  i;nmediately  to  go  to  the  general  and 
give  him  the  mformation.  lie  had  proceeded  about  half  a 
mile  when  ha  met  the  Indians,  was  taken  prisoner,  and  car- 
ned  to  Canada. 

They  left  the  house  and  barn  of  General  Stevens  in  flames 
and  proceeded  up  the  river  as  far  as  Mr.  Durkee's,  where 
they  took  two  of  his  boy.  prisoners,  Adan  and  Andrew,  and 
earned  the  former  to  Canada,  who  died  there  in  prison. 

Seemg  a  smoke  arise  above  the  trees  in  the  woods  adjacent, 
the  hostile  invaders  directed  their  course  to  the  spot,  where 
they  found  a  young  man,  by  the  name  of  Prince  Haskell, 
busily  engaged  in  chopping,  for  the  commencement  of  a  set- 
tlement Haskell  heard  a  rustling  among  the  leaves  behind 
him,  and,  turning  round,  beheld  two  Indians  but  a  few  feet 
from  him.  One  stood  with  his  gun  pointed  directly  at  him, 
and  the  other  in  the  attitude  of  throwing  a  tomahawk.  Find- 
ing he  had  no  chance  to  escape,  he  delivered  himself  up  as  a 
prisoner,  and  was  also  carried  to  Canada.  He  returned  in 
about  one  year,  after  enduring  the  most  extreme  sufferin*^  in 
nis  wanderings  through  the  wilderness  on  his  way  home.° 

A  Mr.  Chafee,*  who  lived  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hendee 
8^  '  .d  early  in  the  morning  to  go  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Ellas 
"•^  *^  ^-^  ^"^^  horse  shod.  On  his  way  he  saw  Mr.  John 
i.ent  ahead  o^  him,  who  was  upon  the  same  business.  Wish- 
ing to  put  in  his  claim  before  IMr.  Chafee,  he  rode  very  fast 
and  arrived  at  the  liouse  rirst.  He  had  scarcely  dismounted 
from  his  horse  when  the  Indians  came  out  of  the  house,  took 
him  by  the  hair  of  his  head,  and  pulled  him  over  backwards. 
Seeing  this,  Mr.  Chafee  immediately  dismounted,  jumped  be- 
hind ihe  shop,  hasien'ed  away,  keeping  such  a  direction  as 
would  cause  the  shop  to  hide  his  retreat.     Thus  he  kept  out 


^   ir-  - 


jhiuae  lived  near  where  Mr.  Dewey  now  lives,  1851. 


200 


INDIAN   NAURATIVE8. 


II  i 


of  sight  of  the  Indians,  effected  his  escape,  and  returned  to 
the  house  of  Mr.  Hendee.*  On  receiving  the  alarm  given 
by  Mr.  Chafee,  Mr.  Hendee  directed  his  wife  to  take  her  little 
boy,  about  seven  years  old,  and  her  little  daughter,  who  was 
still  younger,  and  hasten  to  one  of  their  neighbors  for  safety, 
while  he  should  go  to  Bethel,  the  town  west  of  Royalton,  and 
give  the  alarm  at  the  fort. 

Mrs.  Hendee  had  not  proceeded  far  when  she  was  met  by 
several  Indians  upon  the  run,  who  took  her  little  boy  from 
her.  Feeling  anxious  for  the  fate  of  her  child,  she  inquired 
what  they  were  going  to  do  with  him.  They  replied  that  they 
should  make  a  soldier  of  him  ;  and  then  hastened  away,  pull- 
ing him  along  by  the  hand,  leaving  the  weeping  mother  with 
her  little  daughter  to  witness  the  scene  and  hear  the  piercing 
shrieks  of  her  darling  son. 

This  leads  me  to  notice  one  instance  of  female  heroism, 
blended  with  benevolence,  displayed  by  Mrs.  Hendee,  whose 
name  deserves  ever  to  be  held  in  remembrance  by  every 
friend  of  humanity. 

She  was  now  separated  from  her  husband,  and  placed  in 
the  midst  of  a  savage  crew,  who  were  committing  the  most 
horrid  depredations  and  destroying  every  kind  of  property 
that  fell  within  their  grasp.  Defenceless,  and  exposed  to  the 
shafts  of  envy  or  the  rage  of  a  company  of  despicable  tories 
and  brutal  savages,  the  afflicted  mother,  robbed  of  her  only 
son,  proceeded  down  the  river  with  her  tender  little  daughter 
hanging  to  her  clothes,  screaming  with  fear,  pleading  with  her 
mothei  to  keep  away  the  Indians. 

In  this  condition,  possessing  uncommon  resolution  and  great 
presence  of  mind,  ^e  determined  again  to  get  possession  of 
her  son.  As  she  passed  down  the  river  she  met  several  tories 
who  were  with  the  Indians,  of  whom  she  continued  to  inquire 
what  they  intended  to  do  with  the  children  they  had  taken, 


*  Mr.  IlendcG  lived  near  where  Milo  Dewey  now  lives,  1863. 


aUBNUTG   OV   BttTAtTON. 


904 


urned  to 
m  given 
her  little 
who  was 
r  safety, 
Iton,  and 

1  met  by 
boy  from 
inquired 
that  they 
(ray,  puU- 
ther  with 
!  piercing 

heroism, 
ee,  whose 
by  every 

placed  in 
the  most 

property 
led  to  the 
ible  tories 

her  only 
daughter 
T  with  her 

and  great 
session  of 
eral  tories 
to  inquire 
ad  taken, 


imd  received  an  answer  that  they  should  kill  them.     Still  d«w 
termmed  not  to  part  with  her  son,  she  passed  on  and  soon 
discovered  a  large  body  of  Indians  stationed  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river.     Wishing  to  find  the  commanding  officer, 
and  supposmg  him  to  be  there,  she  set  out  to  cross  the  river 
and  just  as  she  arrived  at  the  bank  an  old  Indian  stepped 
ashore.     He  could  not  talk  English,  but  requested  by  si^^ns  to 
know  where  she  was  going.    She  signified  that  she  was  going 
to  cross ;  when  he,  supposing  she  intended  to  deliver  herself 
up  to  them  as  a  prisoner,  kindly  offered  to  carry  her  and  her' 
child  across  on  his  back.     But  she  refused  to  be  carried.    He 
Uien  insisted  upon  carrying  her  child ;  to  which  she  consented. 
Ihe  little  girl  cried,  and  said  «she  didn't  want  to  ride  the  old 
Indian.      She  was,  however,  persuaded  to  ride  him ;  and  they 
all  set  out  to  ford  the  river. 

Having  proceeded  about  half  way  across  they  came  to  deeper 
and  swifter  water  ;  and  the  old  Indian,  patting  the  mother  upon 
the  shoulder,  gave  her  to  understand  that  if  she  would  tarry 
upon  a  rock  near  them,  which  was  not  covered  with  water, 
tiU  he  had  carried  her  child  over,  he  would  return  and  carry 
her  also.  She  therefore  stopped  and  sat  upon  the  rock  till 
he  had  carried  her  daughter  and  set  it  upon  the  opposite 
shore,  when  he  returned  and  took  her  upon  his  back,  lugged 
her  over,  and  safely  landed  her  with  her  child. 

Supported  by  a  consciousness  of  the  justice  of  her  cause 
braving  every  danger,  and  hazarding  the  most  dreadful  con- 
sequences, not  excepting  her  own  life  and  that  of  her  children 
she  now  sat  out  to  accomplish  her  object.  ' 

She  hastened  to  the  commanding  officer  and  boldly  in- 
quired  of  him  what  he  intended  to  do  with  her  child.  He 
told  her  that  it  was  contrary  to  orders  to  injure  women  or 
children.  «  Such  boys  as  should  be  taken,"  he  said,  «  would 
be  trained  for  soldiers,  and  would  not  be  hurt." 

"  You  know,"  said  she,  in  reply,  "  that  these  little  ones  can- 
not eadux  e  the  fatigue*  of  »  march  through  the  vast  extent 


202 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


of  wilderness  which  you  are  calculating  to  pass.  And  when 
their  trembling  limbs  shall  fail  to  support  their  feeble  bodies, 
and  they  can  no  longer  go,  the  tomahawk  and  the  scalping 
knife  will  be  the  only  relief  you  will  afford  them.  Instead 
of  falling  into  a  mother's  arms  and  receiving  a  mother's  ten- 
der care,  you  will  yield  them  into  the  arms  of  death,  and  earth 
must  be  their  pillow  where  the  howling  wilderness  shall  be 
their  only  shelter.  Truly  a  shelter  from  a  mother's  tears,  but 
not  from  the  jaws  of  wild  beasts  or  a  parent's  grief.  And 
give  me  leave  to  tell  you,"  added  she,  "  were  you  possessed 
of  a  parent's  love,  could  you  feel  the  anguish  of  a  mother's 
heart  at  the  loss  of  her  first  born,  her  darling  son,  torn  from 
her  bosom  by  the  wicked  hands  of  savage  men,  no  entreaties 
would  be  required  to  obtain  the  release  of  my  dear  child." 

Horton  replied,  "  that  the  Indians  wei*e  an  ungovernable 
race,  and  would  not  be  persuaded  to  give  up  any  thing  they 
should  see  fit  to  take." 

"You  are  their  commander,"  continued  she,  "and  they 
must  and  will  obey  you.  The  curse  will  fall  upon  you  for 
whatever  crime  they  may  commit ;  and  all  the  innocent  blood 
they  shall  here  shed  will  be  found  in  your  skirts  '  when  the 
secrets  of  men's  hearts  shall  be  made  known ; '  and  it  will 
then  cry  for  vengeance  on  your  head ! " 

Melted  into  tears  at  this  generous  display  of  maternal  af- 
fection, the  infamous  destroyer  felt  a  relenting  in  his  bosom, 
bowed  his  head  under  the  weight  of  this  powerful  eloquence 
and  simple  boldness  of  the  brave  heroine,  and  assured  her 
that  he  would  deUver  her  child  up  when  the  Indians  arrived 
with  him.  The  party  who  took  him  had  not  yet  returned. 
When  he  arrived,  Horton,  with  much  difficulty,  prevailed  on 
the  Indians  to  deliver  him  up.  After  she  had  gained  posses- 
sion of  him  she  set  out,  leading  him  and  her  little  girl  by  the 
hand,  and  hastened  away  with  speed,  while  the  mingled  sen- 
sations of  fear,  joy,  and  gratitude  filled  her  bosom.     She  had 

not  £OtlC  iUUrU  lUUll   icil    luus    rrucii   x^Oiiuii  iCiiOttcu    aiiu    Lvtu 


nd  when 
i  bodies, 
scalping 
Instead 
er's  ten- 
nd  earth 
shall  be 
ears,  but 
jf.  And 
)ossessed 
mother's 
orn  from 
ntreaties 
hild." 
ivernable 
ing  they 

md  they 
you  for 
ent  blood 
vhen  the 
id  it  will 

ernal  af- 
s  bosom, 
sloquence 
ured  her 
3  arrived 
returned, 
i'ailed  on 
d  posses- 
irl  by  the 
gled  sen- 
She  had 


BURNING    OF   KOYALTON.  208 

her  to  go  back  and  stay  till  the  scouting  parties  had  returned, 
lest  they  should  again  take  her  boy  from  her.     She  accord- 
ingly returned  and  tarried  with  the  Indians  till  they  all  ar- 
rived and  started  for  Canada.     While  she  was  there;  several 
of  herne,ghbors'  children,  about  the  same  age  of  her  own, 
were   brought  there  as  captives.      Possessing  benevolence 
equal  to  her  courage,  she  now  made  suit  for  them;  and  by 
her  warm  and  affectionate  entreaties,  succeeded  in  procuring 
their  release.     While  she  waited  for  their  departure,  sitting 
upon  a  pile  of  boards,  with  the  little  objects  of  charity  around 
her  holding  fast  to  her  clothes,  with  their  cheeks  wet  with 
tears,  an  old  Indian  came  and  took  her  son  by  the  hand  and 
endeavored  to  get  him  away.     She  refused  to  let  him  go,  and 
held  him  fast  by  the  other  hand  till  the  savage  monster  vio- 
lently waved  his  cutlass  over  her  head,  and  the  piercing 
shrieks  of  her  beloved  child  filled  the  air.     This  excited  the 
rage  of  the  barbarous  crew  so  much  as  to  endanger  her  own 
and  the  lives  of  the  children  around  her,  and  compelled  her  to 
yield  him  into  his  hands.     She  again  made  known  her  griev- 
ances to  Horton,  when,  after  considerable  altercation  with  the 
Indians,  he  obtained  her  son  and  delivered  him  to  her  a  sec- 
ond time,  though  he  might  be  said  to  "fear  not  God  nor  re- 
gard man."    Thus,  like  the  importunate  widow  who  "  troubled 
the  unjust  judge,"  this  young  woman  *  obtained  the  release 
oi  nine  small  boys  from  a  wretched  captivity  which  doubt- 
less would  have  proved  their  death.     She  led  eight  of  them 
away,  together  with  her  daughter,  all  hanging  to  her  own 
clothes  and  to  each  other,  mutually  rejoicing  at  their  deliver- 
ance.    The  other,  whose  name  was  Andrew  Durkee,  whom 
the  Indians  had  carried  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Havens,  was 
there  released  according  tc  the  agreement  of  Horton  with 
Mrs.  Hendee,  and  sent  back  o-  >  icount  of  his  lameness. 
,   Being  told  that  the  great  bone  in  his  leg  had  been  taken 

*  Mrs.  Kemlee  was  at  this  time  aged  twenty-seven  years. 


204 


INDIAN    NAKUAT1VE8. 


out  in  consequence  of  a  fever  sore,  an  old  Indian  examined  it 
and  cried  out,  "  No  boon !  no  go !  "  and,  giving  him  a  blanket 
and  a  hatchet,  sent  him  back. 

Mrs.  Hendee  carried  two  of  the  children  across  the  river 
on  her  back,  one  at  a  time,  and  the  others  waded  through  the 
water  with  their  arms  around  each  other's  neck.  After  cross- 
ing the  river  she  travelled  about  three  miles  with  them  and 
encamped  for  the  night,  "  gathering  them  ai-ound  her  as  a  hen 
gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings."  The  names  of  the 
children  who  were  indebted  to  her  for  their  release  from  the 
savage  tribe  were  Michael  Hendee,  Roswell  Parkhurst,  son 
of  Captain  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  Andrew  and  Sheldon  Dur- 

kee,  Joseph  Rix,  Rufus  and Fish,  Nathaniel  Evans, 

and  Daniel  Downer.  The  latter  received  such  an  affright 
from  the  horrid  crew  that  he  was  ever  afterwards  unable  to 
take  care  of  himself,  wholly  unfit  for  business,  and  lived  for 
many  years  wandering  from  place  to  place,  a  solemn  though 
silent  witness  of  the  distress  and  horror  of  that  dreadful 

scene. 

Mrs.  Hendee  now  (1818)  lives  in  Sharon,  where  the  au- 
thor visited  her  and  received  the  foregoing  statement  of  this 
noble  exploit  from  her  own  mouth.  It  is  also  corroborated 
by  several  gentlemen,  now  living,  who  were  eye  witnesses. 

She  has  buried  her  first  and  second  husbands,  and  now  lives 
a  widow,  by  the  name  of  Moshier.  Her  days  are  almost 
gone.  May  her  declining  years  be  crowned  with  the  reward 
due  to  her  youthful  deeds  of  benevolence.  She  has  faced  the 
most  awful  dangers  for  the  good  of  mankind,  and  rescued 
many  from  the  jaws  of  death. 

In  view  of  the  exceeding  riches  of  that  mercy  which  has 
protected  her  through  such  scenes  of  danger,  may  she  devote 
her  life  to  the  service  of  the  mighty  God,  and,  at  last,  find  a 
happy  seat  at  the  right  hand  of  Him  "  wlio  gave  himself  a 
ransom  for  all."  And  thus  let  the  children,  who  are  indebted 
to  her  braver^  and  benevolence  for  their  lives,  "  rise  up  and 


BURNING    OK   ROYALTON. 


m 


mined  it 
blanket 

lie  river 
)ugh  the 
er  cross- 
lem  and 
as  a  hen 
es  of  the 
Tom  the 
urst,  son 
Ion  Dur- 
l  Evans, 
I  affright 
inable  to 

lived  for 
a.  though 

dreadful 

5  the  au- 
at  of  this 
roborated 
nesses. 
now  lives 
re  almost 
e  reward 
faced  the 
i  rescued 

vhich  has 
he  devote 
ist,  find  a 
himself  a 
3  indebted 
e  up  and 


can  her  blessed."  Gratitude  forbids  their  silence ;  for  to 
maternal  affection  and  female  heroism  alone,  under  God,  they 
owe  the.r  deliverance  from  savage  cruelty.  The  boldest  hero 
o  the  othe.- sex  could  never  have  effected  what  she  accom- 
pished.  H.S  approach  to  the  savage  tribe  to  intercede  in 
behalf  of  those  defenceless  children  most  surely  would  have 
brought  upon  h.mself  a  long  and  wretched  captivity,  and  per- 
haps even  death  itself.  f       .r»  «  «  per 

The  Indians,  having  accomplished  their  nefarious  desic^ris 
returned  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Havens  with  their  prisoners 
and  the  plunder  of  houses  which  they  had  devoted  to'destruc 
tion.     Here  was  the  place  where  they  had  commenced  their 

hmiself  under  a  log,  at  the  time  he  espied  the  Indians  in  the 
mornjug  whtle  hunting  for  his  sheep,  still  remained  in  sorrow- 
ful  sdence  undiscovered.  He  had  considered  it  unsafe  to 
move,  as  a  party  of  the  crew  had  continued  there  during  the 
day  and  had  twice  come  and  stood  upon  the  log  under  which 
he  lay  without  finding  him.  "cr  wnicn 

After  collecting  their  plunder  together  and  distributing  it 
among  them  they  burned  the  house  and  barn  of  Mr.  Havens 
and  started  for  Canada.  It  was  now  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
a  ternoon.  They  carried  off  twenty-six  prisoners  fz-om  Roy- 
alton,  who  were  all  delivered  up  to  the  British  as  prisoners 
oi  v;ar.  ^ 

They  all  obtained  their  release  and  returned  in  about  one 
yea,-  excepting  Adan  Durkee,  who  died  in  camp  at  Montreal. 

Iwenty-one  dwelling  houses,  and  sixteen  good  new  barns, 
well  filled  with  hay  and  grain,  the  hard  earnings  of  indus- 
trious young  fanners,  were  here  laid  in  ashes  by  the  impious 
crew.     They  killed  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  head  of  neat 


cattle   and   all  the   sheep  and  swine  they  found.     Ho^^s 


the 


ir  pens  and  cattle  tied  in   tl 


ley  destroyed  all  the  liou.>^.;hold  I'urnit 


eir  stalls  were  burned  al 


m 
ive. 


ure 


except  what  thev 

earned   w.th  them.     They  burned  the  house  of  Mr.  John 
18 


206 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


Hutchinson ;  an.1  giving  his  wife  a  hatchet  and  a  flmt,  to- 
gether with  a  quarter  of  mutton,  told  lier  to  "  go  and  cook 
for  her  men."  Tlii^  they  said  to  aggravate  her  teehngs  and 
remind  her  of  her  forlorn  condition. 

Women  and  children  were  left  entirely  destitute  of  food 
and  every  kind  of  article  necessary  for  the  comforts  of  lite, 
almost  naked,  and  without  a  shelter.  Wandering  from  place 
to  place,  they  beheld  their  cattle  rolling  in  their  blood,  groan- 
ing in  the  agonies  of  death,  and  saw  their  houses  laid  m 
ruins.  Disconsolate  mothers  and  weeping  orphans  were  ieit 
to  wander  through  the  dreadful  waste  and  lament  the  loss  of 
their  nearest  friends,  comfortless  and  forlorn. 

The  Indians  took  away  about  thirty  horses,  which  were 
however  of  little  use  to  them,  but  rather  served  to  hinder 
their  progress.  Their  baggage  was  composed  of  almost  every 
article  commonly  found  among  farmers  ;  such  as  axes  and 
hoes,  pots,  kettles,  shovels  and  tongs,  sickles,  scythes  and 
chains,  old  side  saddles,  and  bed  ticks  emptied  of  their  feath- 
ers, warming  pans,  plates,  and  looking  glasses,  and  indeed 
nearly  all  kinds  of  articles  necessary  for  the  various  avoca- 
tions of  life. 

On  their  return  they  crossed  the  hills  in  Tunbridge,  lying 
west  of  first  branch,  and  proceeded  to  Randolph,  where  they 
encamped  for  the  first  night,  near  the  second  branch,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  ten  miles.  They  had,  however,  previously 
despatched  old  Mr.  Kneeland,  a  prisoner  whom  they  consul- 
ered  would  be  of  the  least  service  to  them,  with  letters  to  the 
militia,  stating  that,  "  if  they  were  not  followed,  the  prisoners 
should  be  used  well ;  but  should  they  be  pursued,  every  one 
of  them  would  be  put  to  death." 

The  alarm  had  by  this  time  spread  through  the  adjacent 
towns;  and  the  scattering,  undisciplined  militia  shouldered 
their  muskets  and  hastened  to  pursue  them.  They  collected 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Evans,  in  Randolph,  about  two  miles 
south  of  the  encampment  of  the  Indians.     Here  they  formed 


BURNING    OP   ROYALTON. 


207 


flint,  te- 
nd cook 
11  g8  and 

of  food 
I  of  life, 
m  place 
I,  groan- 
)  laid  in 
vere  left 
i  loss  of 

ich  were 

0  hinder 
)st  every 
ixea  and 
:hes  and 
air  feath- 
d  indeed 
IS  avoca- 

Ige,  lying 
liere  they 
ch,  a  dis- 
•reviously 
;y  consid- 
ers to  the 
prisoners 
every  one 

1  adjacent 
houldered 
r  collected 
two  miles 
ey  formed 


R  company,  consistinjr  of  about  three  hundred  in  number,  and 
made  choice  of  Colonel  John  House,  of  Ilanovor,  New  Hamp- 
shire, for  their  commander.     They  supposed  the  Indians  had 
gone  to  Brookfield,  about  ten  miles  from  that  place,  up  the 
second  branch.     With  this  expectation   they  took  up  their 
march  about  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  hoping  they  should  be 
able  to  reach  Brookfield  before  light  and  make  them  prison- 
ers.    They  had  scarcely  Ptarte<l  when  the  American  front 
guard,  to  their  utter  snrprise,  were  fired  upon  by  the  rear- 
guard of  the  enemy.     Several  fires  were  exchanged  and  one 
of  the  Americans  wounded ;  when  Colonel   House,  througii 
cowardice   or  want  of  skill,  commanded  them  to  halt  and 
cease  firing.     He  then  ordered  them  to  make  a  stand,  and 
kept  them  in  suspense  till  the  Indians  had  made  their  escape. 
To  hasten  their  flight,  the  savage  tribe  were  compelled  to  leave 
at  their  encampment  a  considerable  quantity  of  their  plunder, 
nearly  all  the  horses,  and  made  good  their  retreat. 

Here  they  killed  two  of  the  prisoners,  by  the  names  of 
Joseph  Kneeland  and  Giles  Gibbs.  The  former  was  found 
dead,  with  his  scalp  taken  off,  and  the  latter  with  a  tomahawk 
in  his  head. 

At  daylight  Colonel  House  courageously  entered  the  de- 
serted camp  and  took  possession  of  the  spoil ;  but,  alas !  the 
enemy  were  gone  he  knew  not  where.  Urged  by  his  brave 
soldiers,  who  were  disgusted  at  his  conduct,  he  proceeded  up 
the  second  branch,  as  far  as  Brookfield,  in  pursuit  of  the  en- 
emy, and,  not  finding  them,  disbanded  his  men  and  returned. 

Had  Colonel  H.  possessed  courage  and  skill  adequate  to 
the  duties  of  his  station  he  might  have  defeated  the  enemy, 
it  is  thought,  without  the  least  difficulty,  and  made  them  all 
prisoners.  His  number  was  equal  to  that  of  the  enemy,  well 
armed  with  muskets  and  furnished  with  ammunition.  The 
enemy,  though  furnished  with  muskets,  had  little  ammunition, 
and  were  cuijfbered  with  the  weight  of  much  guilt  and  a  load 
of  plunder.     They  had  encamped  upon  a  spot  of  ground 


206 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


which  gave  tlie  Americans  all  the  a(lvnnljip;p,  and  their  only 
aafety  rested  in  their  Hijrht.  The  Aniericun  force  consisted 
of  undisciplined  militia,  who  promiscuously  sissembled  from 
different  (luariers,  but  were  full  of  courage,  animated  by  the 
principles  of  justice  and  determined  to  obtain  redress  for  the 
injuries  they  had  received  from  the  barbarous  crew. 

Many  of  them  likewise  had  friends  and  connections  then  in 
possession  of  the  Indians,  to  obtain  whose  freedom  they  were 
stimulated  to  action.  But,  alas  !  their  determination  failed, 
their  hopes  were  blasted.  They  were  forced  to  relinquish 
the  object,  and  sutfer  their  friends  to  pass  on  and  endure  a 
■wretched  captivity.  They,  however,  forced  the  Indians  to 
leave  the  stream  and  take  their  course  over  the  hills,  be- 
tween the  second  and  third  branch,  which  brought  them  di- 
rectly and  unexpectedly  to  the  house  of  Zadock  Steele,  whom 
they  made  prisoner  and  took  to  Canada. 

To  his  "  captivity  and  sufferings,"  as  related  by  himself  in 
the  following  pages,  the  reader  is  referred  for  a  further  ac- 
count of  the  expedition  of  the  Indians  and  its  dreadful  con- 
sequences. 


CAPTIVITY  OF  ZADOCK  STEELE. 

Before  the  mind  of  the  indulgent  render  is  engaged  in  a 
peruaal  of  the  sufferings  of  my  maturer  years,  it  may  not  be 
improper  to  direct  the  attention  to  scenes  of  nativity  and 
youth. 

The  day  of  my  birth,  find  the  events  which  transpired  to 
bring  upon  me  tlie  miseries  I  have  undergone,  will  not  be  un- 
interesting, I  think,  to  those  who  may  feel  disposed  to  read 
the  following  pages. 

As,  in  the  evening  of  a  tempestuous  day,  with  solemn  yet 
pleasing  emotions  we  look  back  on  the  dangers  through  which 
we  have  been  preserved,  so,  when  man  has  passed  through 
scenes  of  fatigue,  endured  the  hardships  of  a  savage  captivity, 
as  well  as  the  pains  of  a  prison,  and  again  obtained  his  free- 
dom, it  is  a  source  of  pleasure  to  cause  those  scenes  to  pass 
in  review  before  his  imagination,  and  cannot  fail  to  excite  his 
gratitude  to  the  Power  that  afforded  him  relief 

I  was  born  at  Tolland,  Connecticut,  on  the  17th  of  De- 
cember, 17o8.  In  177fi  my  father,  James  Steele,  Esq.,  moved 
from  Tolland  to  Ellington,  a  town  adjoiniiif',  where  he  kept  a 
house  of  entertainment  several  years.  During  the  years  of 
my  childhood  the  Ainerican  colonies  were  put  in  commotion 
by  what  is  generally  termed  the  French  war. 

The  colonies  had  hardly  recovered  from  the  convulsions  of 
that  war  when  the  Amenean  revolution  commenced.  My 
father  had  been  actively  engaged  in  the  former  war,  and  now 
received  a  lieutenant's  commission  *in  the  revolutionary  army. 
The  importance  of  the  contest  in  which  the  colonies  were 

18*  (309) 


no 


IMDIAN   NARRATIVB8. 


cngaRod  called  upon  evory  friend  to  the  rights  of  man  to  be 
actively  employed.  Beinf?  in  my  eighteenth  year  in  May, 
1776,  I  enlisted  into  the  army  for  one  year  as  waiter  to  my 
father.  Soon  after  I  enli=>ted  he  waa  visited  with  a  severe  fit 
of  sickness  which  prevented  him  from  entering  the  army, 
and  compelled  me  to  go  into  the  ranks,  leaving  him  behmd. 
My  two  older  brothers,  Aaron  and  James,  also  enlisted  the 
same  year.  Aaron  died  in  March  following  at  Chatham,  New 
Jersey,  in  the  twenty-third  year  of  his  age.  Bereft  ot  a 
brother  whom  I  held  dear,  after  s.-ving  the  term  of  my  en- 
listment I  returned  to  Ellington. 

The  next  year  I  served  one  campaign  in  the  militia,  and 
the  year  following  as  a  teamster,  which  closed  my  services  in 
the  army.  I  was  now  about  nineteen  years  of  age.  I  had 
been  favored  with  very  little  opportunity,  as  yet,  to  acquire  an 
education ;  as  the  infantile  state  of  the  colonies  and  the  agita- 
tion of  public  affairs  at  that  time  afforded  little  encourage- 
ment  to  schools,  and  caused  a  universal  depression  of  literature 

in  general. 

I  however,  acquired  an  education  sufficient  to  enable  me  to 
transact  the  business  of  a  farmer  and  regulate  my  own  con- 
cerns in  my  intercourse  with  mankind.  But  long  have  I 
deeply  regretted  the  want  of  that  knowledge  of  letters  requi- 
site to  prepare  for  the  press  a  narrative  of  my  own  sufferings 
and  those  of  my  fellow-captives  which  should  be  read  with 
interest  and  receive  the  approbation  of  an  indulgent  public. 

No  hope  of  pecuniary  gain  or  wish  to  bru.^-  nysolf  into 
public  notice  has  induced  me  to  publish  a  pn -n,  ..  '  my 
sufferings.  A  desire  that  others  as  well  as  myself  might 
learn  wisdom  from  the  things  I  have  suffered  is  the  principal 
cause  of  its  publication.  The  repeated  instances  ot  my  de- 
liver?i.^p  from  threatened  death,  in  which  the  finger  of  bod 
wtM  7-^ible,  -all  for  the  deepest  gratitude,  and  have  made  an 
,.nprvc-^io,u  upon  my  mind' which  I  trust  will  remain  as  long 
ae  tbe  powers  of  my  recollection  shall  endure.    I  was  sensible 


CAPTIVITr    OF   ZAUUCK    BtEKLK. 


m 


\t  might  aldo  furnish  a  lesson  of  instruction  to  my  fellow-men 
and  to  future  generations  duly  to  prize  the  privileges  and 
blessings  they  may  enjoy,  by  observing  the  dreadful  contrast 
which  is  brought  to  view  in  this  narrative. 

Desirable,  however,  as  it  might  be,  I  had  long  since  relik.  ■ 
quished  ail  idea  of  ever  seeing  an  account  of  my  sufferings  in 
print.  But  by  the  earnest  solicitations  and  friendly  though 
fiecble  assistance  of  others,  I  have  thought  fit  at  this  late  pe- 
riod of  my  life,  yet  with  humble  deference  to  the  good  sense 
of  an  enlightened  public,  to  give  a  short  narrative  of  what  I 
have  endured  in  common  with  many  of  my  fellow-men  who 
wei-e  my  fellow-prisoners. 

Among  the  evils  resulting  from  the  destruction  of  Uoynl- 
ton,  my  own  captivity  was  far  from  being  the  least.  That 
event  was  the  precursor  of  all  ray  sorrows  —  the  fountain 
from  which  sprung  streams  of  wretchedness  and  want.  Nor 
will  the  channel  be  forgotten,  though  the  raging  flood  cease 
to  roll.  As  small  streams  are  swallowed  up  by  larger  ones, 
60  many  serious  and  sore  trials  are  doubtless  lost  in  that  dread- 
ful current  of  distress  through  which  I  was  cjUled  to  pass. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  is,  however,  requested  to  a 
simple  statement  of  facts,  as  they  occur  to  ray  mind,  while  I 
relate  the  circumstances  of  my  captivity  by  the  Indians,  the 
treatment  I  received  from  them,  my  privations  while  a  pris- 
oner to  the  British,  my  wonderful  escape  from  their  hands, 
and  extreme  sufferings  in  the  wilderness  on  my  way  home. 
Truth  will  not  easily  permit,  nor  have  1  any  desire,  to  enlarge 
or  exaggerate  upon  the  things  I  suffered.  Guided  by  the 
principles  of  justice,  and  wishing  no  ill  to  any  man  or  set  of 
men,  I  hope  I  shall  not  be  found  disposed  to  calumniate  or 
reproach. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  speak  of  any  individual  or  nation 
with  less  respect  than  is  due  to  their  true  character  and 
conduct. 

I  shall,  however,  be  under  the  necessity  of  noticing  many 


212 


INDIAN   NAREATIVE8. 


cruelties  that  were  inflicted  upon  the  prisoners,  by  men  who 
enjoyed  the  advantages  of  civilization,  which  were  sumcient 
to  put  the  rudest  savage  to  the  blush. 

But  the  long  lapse  of  time  and  the  effects  of  old  age  have, 
no  doubt,  blotted  from  my  memory  incidents  which  would  have 
been  no  less,  and  perhaps  more,  interesting  and  instructive 
than  many  circumstances  which  I  shall  be  able  to  recollect. 
This,  together  with  the  inexperience  of  the  writer,  must  be 
the  only  apology  for  the  imperfections  of  the  following  pages. 

In  April,  1780,  being  in  my  twenty-second  year,  I  started 
from  my  father's  house  in  Ellington,  leaving  all  my  friends 
and  relatives,  and  came  to  Randolph,  in  the  State  of  Vermont, 
a  town  south  of  Brookfield,  a  distance  of  nearly  two  hundred 
miles.  I  there  purchased  a  right  of  land,  lying  in  the  north 
part  of  the  town,  on  which  was  a  log  house  and  a  little  im- 
provement. Suffering  the  privations  and  hardships  common 
to  those  who  dwell  in  new  countries,  I  spent  the  summer  in 
diligent  labor,  subsisting  upon  rather  coarse  fare,  and  sup- 
ported by  the  fond  hopes  of  soon  experiencing  better  days. 

The  young  man  who  drove  my  team  from  Connecticut,  with 
provisions,  farming  utensils,  &c.,  labored  with  me  through  the 
summer  and  fall  seasons  till  October,  when  he  returned  to 
Ellington  just  in  time  to  escape  the  danger  of  being  taken  by 
the  Indians. 

A  small  settlement  had  commenced  in  the  south-wester- 
ly part  of  Randolph,  on  the  third  branch  of  White  River, 
about  six  miles  from  my  own.  A  little  settlement  had 
also  commenced  on  the  second  branch  of  the  same  river  in 
Brookfield,  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  cown,  and  at  about  an 
equal  distance  from  my  abode.  As  there  were  in  Randolph 
a  number  of  famiHes  situated  in  different  parts  of  the  town, 
and  our  country  being  engaged  in  a  war,  which  rendered  our 
frontier  settlements  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  an  exasperated 
foe,  we  had  taken  the  necessary  precaution  to  establish  alarm 

posts,  by  which  we  miffht  annonnnw  tn  f^aoh  nthar  tb«  ovx^^ u 

of  an  enemy. 


1 

I 


CAPTIVITy   OP  ZADOOK   STEELE.  2J8 

But  our  Brookfield  brethren,  though  in  a  town  adjoin- 
.ng.  were  beyond  the  hearing  of  the  report  of  our  alarm 

th^lJl^"  l^^h  of  October  we  were  apprised  of  the  arrival  of 

dojph.  They  entered  that  town  on  the  morning  of  the  16th 
and  were  committing  ravages,  taking  and  killing  the  inhab-' 
itants,  gpanng  the  lives  of  none  whom  they  could  overtake  in 
an  attempt  to  escape,  destroying  property,  burning  all  the 
bu.ldmgs  that  they  discovered,  killing  the  cattle,  pilirging  the 
houses,  and  taking  captives.  -^^^'S  me 

fy.l\T  ^?""'"t  '^"^  ^""^^  ^""°^^  "P  '^'^'''  the  second  or 
thud  branch  on  their  return  to  Canada,  as  these  two  branches 
run  to  the  south  and  nearly  parallel  to  each  other ;  the  former 

lle'r  It""'?'  ''"'""  "*'  '^'  "^'^'  ^^  ^^^^^^O"'  -"d  the 
latter  a  few  miles  west. 

a^szstmg   he  settlers  on  the  third  branch  in  RandoJpL  to  move 
thezr  famines  and  effects  into  the  woods  such  a  distance  a!    • 
was  thought  would  render  them  safe,  should  the  Indians  pur- 
sue  that  stream  up  on  their  return. 

I  then  requested  that  some  one  of  them  should  accompany 
me  to  go  and  notify  the  Brookfield  settlers  of  their  danger 

alone.     I  had  only  time  to  arrive  at  my  own  dwelling,  which 
was  on  my  direct  course,  before  I  was  overtaken  by  the  ap- 
proach  of  night.     As  there  was  no   road  and  nofhin.  but 
marked  trees  to  guide  my  way,  I  tarried  all  night.     Klvinc 
prepared  some  food  for  breakfast  I  lay  down  to  sleep,  littb 
knowing  what  awaited  my  waking  hours.     At  the  dawn  of 
day  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  I  set  out  to  prosecute  the 
object  for  which  I  started,  though  in  a  violent  tempest,  at- 
tend.!  with  snow.     I  had  not  proceeded  far  before  the  storm 
gieatly  increased,  which  I  found  would  not  only  much  en- 
aangermy  life,  but  go  retard  mv  nrnar^=a  ths*  t  ...-,^  _.. 


214 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


arrive  in  time  seasonably  to  warn  my  friends  of  their  danger 
or  escape  myself  from  the  hands  of  the  enemy  should  they 
follow  the  second  branch  instead  of  the  third.  I  therefore 
returned  to  my  house.  Soon  after  I  arrived  within  doors, 
filled  with  anxiety  for  the  unsuspecting  inhabitants  of  Brook- 
field,  I  heard  a  shocking  cry  in  the  surrounding  woods  ;  and, 
trembling  for  my  own  safety.  I  ran  to  the  door,  when,  to  my 
utter  astonishment,  and  the  reader  may  judge  my  feelings,  I 
beheld  a  company  of  Indians,  consisting  of  not  less  than  three 
hundred  in  number,  not  ten  rods  distant,  approaching  with 
hideous  cries  and  frightful  yells ! 

•♦  O  how  unlike  the  chorus  of  the  skies  !  " 

There  was  no  way  of  escape.  I  had  only  to  stand  still, 
wait  their  approach,  and  receive  my  miserable  destiny.  In- 
deed, I  could  now  say  with  David,  "  The  sorrows  of  death 
compassed  me,  and  the  floods  of  ungodly  men  made  me 
afraid."  I  had  nowhere  to  flee  but  to  the  "  great  Preserver 
of  men,  who  was  my  only  hiding-place,"  "  my  goodness  and 
my  fortress,  my  high  tower  and  my  deliverer,  my  shield, 
and  he  in  whom  I  trust." 

"  They  came  upon  me  as  a  wide  breaking  of  waters ;  in 
the  desolation  they  rolled  themselves  upon  me." 

Their  leader  came  up  and  to'd  me  I  must  go  with  them. 
They  asked  me  if  any  other  persons  were  to  be  found  near 
that  place.  I  told  them  it  was  probable  there  were  none  to 
be  found.  They  then  inquired  if  any  cattle  were  near ;  to 
which  lanswered  in  the  negative. '  But  they  seemed  to  choose 
rather  to  take  the  trouble  to  search  than  to  confide  in  what  I 
told  them. 

After  taking  every  thing  they  found  worthy  to  carry  with 
them,  and  destroying  all  that  was  not  likely  to  sutler  injury 
by  fire,  they  set  the  house  on  tire  and  marched  on.  One  of 
them  took  a  bag  of  grass  seed  upon  his  back,  and,  cutting  a 
hole  in  the  bag,  scattered  the  seed  as  he  marched,  which  took 


CAPTIVITr    OF   ZADOCK   STEELE. 


215 


root  stocked  the  ground,  and  was  for  many  years  a  sad  me- 
mento  ot  my  long  captivity. 

The  chief  who  came  up  to  me  could  talk  English  very  well 
which  was  a  circumstance  much  in  my  favor,  us  he  became' 
ny  master  under  wJnch  name  I  shall  have  frequent  occasion 
to  speak  of  Inm  in  the  course  of  this  narrative. 

They  took  all  my  clothes,  not  excepting  the  best  I  had  on, 
and  distnbuted  them   amongst  themselves.     They,  however, 
furmshed  me  with  blankets  sufficient  to  defend  me  against  the 
cold,  but  deprived  me  of  my  own  property ;  the  bitter  con- 
sequences  of  which  I  felt  in  my  subsequent  confinement  with 
R^dofh      ^""^  """  "'^  ''^"'"  ^"^  '^'""''  ™^  settlement  at 
The  Indians  had  encamped  the  night  preceding  on  the  sec 
ond  branch  m   Randolph,   on  which  the  Brookfield  settlers  • 
hved,  and  not  more  than  ten  miles  below  them,  but  during 
the  n.ght  had  been  put  to  rout  by  a  party  of  Americans,  con! 
sistmg  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  in  number,  who  were 
commanded  by  Colonel  John  House,  of  Hanover,  New  Hamp- 
shire.     To  make  their  escape,  they  left  the  stream  and  took  a 
course  which  brought  them  directly  to  my  dwelling. 

Had  they  not  been  molested,  but  permitted  to  pursue  their 
intended  course  up  the  stream,  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of 
Brookfield  would  doubtless  have  shared  the  miserable  fate  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Royalton,  themselves  taken  prisoners,  and 
doomed  to  suffer  a  long  and  wretched  captivity,  and  their 
property  destroyed  by  tJie  devouring  element.  This  preven- 
tion, which,  however,  was  the  cause  of  my  captivity,  the  sub- 
ject  of  the  following  narrative,  was  probably  the  only  good 
that  Colonel  H.  effected ;  and  this  he  did  unwittingly,  for 
which  he  can  claim  no  thanks. 

Soon  after  we  started  from  my  house  my  master,  who  was 
the  principal  conductor  and  chief  of  the  whole  tribe,  discov- 
ered that  I  had  a  pair  of  silver  buckles  in  my  shoes,  and  at- 
tempted to  take  them  from  me;  but,  by  promising  to  let  him 


216 


INDIAN   NARRATlVEa. 


have  them  when  we  arrived  at  our  journey's  end,  I  persuaded 
hinj  to  let  me  keep  them.  But  we  had  not  travelled  far  be- 
fore another  Indian  espied  them,  and  crying  out,  '■'Wah  ston- 
dormn!"  (Ah,  there's  silver ! )  took  them  from  me,  and  fui-- 
nished  me  with  strings  for  my  shoes  as  substitutes. 

We  travelled  the  firsf  day  to  Berlin  and  encamped  on  Dog 
River,  not  many  miles  from  the  place  where  Montpelier  vil- 
lage now  stands.  They  built  a  fire  of  some  rods  in  length,* 
to  which  opportunity  was  afforded  for  all  to  approach.  They 
then  placed  sentinels  around,  which  rendered  it  impossible 
for  any  one  to  move  unnoticed.  But  this  precaution  was  not 
sufficient  to  satisfy  their  minds  to  prevent  the  escape  of  their 
captive  prisoners.  Therefore,  to  render  our  escape  less  easy 
to  be  effected,  as  we  lay  down  upon  the  ground  they  tied  a 
rope  around  our  bodies,  and,  extending  it  each  way,  the  In- 
dians laid  upon  it  on  our  right  and  on  our  left,  not  suffering 
any  two  prisoners  to  lie  next  each  other.  I  could,  however, 
crawl  so  far  out  of  the  rope  as  to  be  able  to  sit  upright,  but 
always  found  some  of  the  Indians  sitting  up,  either  to  prepare 
their  clothing  for  the  following  day's  march,  or  intentionally 
to  set  as  additional  guards ;  and  I  never  found  the  favored 
moment  when  all  Avere  at  rest. 

Ad  they  had  told  me  before  we  encamped  that  if  they  were 
overtaken  by  the  Americans  they  should  kill  every  prisoner, 
I  felt  the  more  anxious  to  make  njy  escape ;  and  they  seemed, 
in  view  of  their  danger,  more  desirous  to  keep  us  within 
reach  of  the  tomahawk,  and  secure  us  against  a  flight  in  case 
the  Americans  should  approach.  I  watched  with  trembling- 
fear  and  anxious  expectation  during  the  night  we  lay  at  Ber- 
lin, seeking  an  opportunity  to  escape,  which  I  found  utterly 
impossible,  and  looking  every  moment  for  the  arrival  of  a 
company  of  Americans,  whose  approach  I  was  assured  would 
be  attended  with  death  to  every  prisoner. 

They  compelled  many  of  the  prisoners  to  carry  their  packs, 
enormous  in  size  mid  extremely  heavy,  as  they  were  filled 


ersuaded 

d  far  bf- 

Vah  ston- 

and  fux'- 

.  on  Dog 
lelier  vil- 
1  length,* 
I.  They 
npossible 
I  was  not 
!  of  their 
less  easy 
ey  tied  a 
^,  the  In- 
suffering 
however, 
right,  but 
»  prepare 
ntionally 
i  favored 

bey  were 
prisoner, 
r  seemed, 
IS  within 
it  in  case 
rembling 
?  at  Ber- 
\  utterly 
ival  of  a 
ed  would 

;ir  packs, 
ere  filled 


CAPTIVITY    OF   ZADOCK    STEELE.  217 

With  the  plunder  of  pillaged  houses  and  every  thing  which 
attracted  their  curiosity  or  desire  to  possess.  Looking  glasses, 
which  by  the  intention  or  carelessness  of  the  prisoners  became 
broken  in  a  short  time,  pots,  spiders,  frying  pans,  and  old  side 
saddles,  which  were  sold  on  their  arrival  at  St.  John's  for  one 
dollar,  composed  a  part  of  their  invaluable  baggage. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  they  first  ordered  me  to  eat 
my  breakfast,  urging  me  to  eat  as  much  as  I  wanted ;  while 
on  account  of  the  loss  of  their  provisions  at  Randolph,  they 
had  scarce  half  an  allowance  for  themselves.  I  knew  not 
whether  to  attribute  this  conduct  to  their  feelings  of  charity 
and  generosity,  a  desire  to  secure  my  friendship,  or  a  wish  to 
preserve  my  life  under  a  prospect  of  procuring  gain,  or  to 
some  other  cause. 

Indeed,  they  seemed  at  all  times  to  be  willing  to  "feed  the 
hungry,"  not  even  seeing  one  of  the  prisoners  leisurely  pick 
a  berry  by  the  way,  as  they  passed  along,  without  offering 
them  food,  considering  this  as  a  token  of  our  hunger. 

Their  food,  however,  was  very  unsavory,  insomuch  that 
nothing  but  extreme  hunger  would  have  induced  me  to  eat 
of  It,  though  I  always  had  a  share  of  their  best. 

Habituated  to  a  partial  covering  themselves  and  excited  by 
curiosity,  they  took  from  me  all  my  best  clothes,  and  gave  me 
blankets  in  exchange.  They  often  travelled  with  the  utmost 
celerity  ni  their  power  to  try  my  activity,  viewing  me  with 
iooks  of  complacency  to  find  me  able  to  keep  pace  with  them. 

We  this  day  passed  down  Dog  River  till  we  came  to  Onion 
Kiver,  into  which  the  former  empties  itself,  and  then  kept  the 
course  of  the  latter  during  the  day,  steering  nearly  a  north- 
west  direction.  At  night  we  came  to  a  very  steep  mountain, 
winch  was  extremely  difficult  of  access,  not  far  from  the  place 
now  called  Bolton,  in  the  county  of  Chittenden.  Upon  the 
top  of  this  mountain  the  Indians,  on  their  way  to  Royalton 
had  secreted  a  number  of  bags  of  fine  flour  which  they  brought 
with  them  from  Canada,  and  now  regained.  This  greatiy  re- 
19  ."^        -^ 


-m 


INDIAN    NARRATIVBli. 


plenished  their  stores,  and  afforded  a  full  supply  of  wholesome 
bread.  The  manner  of  making  their  bread  is  curious,  and 
exhibits  useful  instruction  to  those  who  may  be  called  to  make 
their  bread  in  the  wilderness  without  enjoying  the  privilege 
of  household  furniture. 

They  took  their  dough,  wound  it  around  a  stick  in  the  form 
of  a  screw,  stuck  it  into  the  ground  by  the  fire,  and  thus 
baked  their  bread,  without  receiving  injury  by  the  smoke  or 
rendering  it  more  filthy  than  it  came  from  their  hands. 

Their  fear  that  they  should  be  overtaken  by  the  Ameri- 
cans had  by  this  time  greatly  abated,  and  this  was  considered 
by  the  prisoners  grounds  for  less  apprehension  of  the  danger 
of  being  put  to  death  by  the  Indians.     Till  now,  however,  it 
is  beyond  the  power  of  language  to  express,  nor  can  imagina- 
tion paint,  the  feelings  of  my  heart,  when,  torn  from  my 
friends  and  all  I  held  dear  on  earth,  compelled  to  roam  the 
wilderness  to  unknown  parts,  obliged  to  ford  rivers,  and  then 
lie  down  at  night  upon  the  cold  ground  with  scarcely  a  dry 
thread   in   my  clothes,   having  a  rope  fastened  around  my 
body,  surrounded  by  a  tribe  of  savage  Indians,  from  whose 
very  friendship  I  could  expect  nothing  but  wretchedness  and 
misery,  and  whose  brutal  rage  would  be  sure  to  prove  my 

death. 

Nor  was  this  rage  only  liable  to  be  excited  by  a  sense  ot 
real  danger,  but,  from  conscious  guilt,  equally  liable  to  be  put 
in  force  by  the  most  slight,  false,  and  trifling  alarm. 

«'  'Tis  a  prime  part  of  happiness  to  know 
How  much  unhappiness  must  prove  our  lot  — 
A  part  which  few  possess." 

On  the  fourth  day  we  arrived  at  Lake  Champlain.  We 
here  found  some  bateaux,  in  which  the  Indians  had  conveyed 
themselves  thither  on  their  way  to  Royalton.  On  their  arri- 
val at  the  lake,  and  regaining  their  bateaux,  they  gave  a 
-u-^i  of  exultation  and  laughter,  manifesting  their  joy  and 

triumph. 


CAPTIVITY    OF   ZADOCK    STEELE. 


219 


My  master,  who  was  about  to  take  a  different  route  from 
the  rest  of  the  tribe,  took  me  aside,  and,  in  a  dissembling  tone, 
•told  me  with  great  professions  of  friendship,  with  little  credit, 
however,  that  I  had  better  take  off"  my  coat  and  let  him  have 
It,  for  which  he  would  give  me  a  blanket  in  exchange,  assur- 
ing me  that  the  Indians  would  take  it  from  me  if  I  did  not  do 
it.     Dreading  the  consequences  of  a  refusal  more  than  the 
loss  of  the  coat,  1  let  him  have  it,  and  received  a  blanket  in 
return.     We  crossed  over  and  encamped  on  Grand  Isle  that 
night.    The  next  morning  we  reembarked  in  our  bateaux,  and 
safely  landed  at  the  Isle  Aux  Noix  before  night.     Here  the 
Indians  found  a  supply  of  rum,  which  gave  them  an  opportu- 
nity to  make  market  for  a  part  of  their  plunder  and  satiate 
their  thirst.     Nor,  indeed,  was  the  opportunity  unimproved. 
In-itated  by  the  force  of  intoxication,  they  were  all  in  confu- 
sion :  savage  yells  and  shrill  outcries  filled  the  surrounding 
atmosphere,  and  death  seemed  to  stare  every  captive  full  in 
the  face. 

"  So  sung  Philander,  as  a  friend  went  round 
In  the  rich  ichor,  in  the  generous  blood 
Of  Bacchus,  purple  god  of  joyous  wit." 

At  length,  however,  their  senses  became  drowned  in  the  tor- 
rent of  inebriety  ;  they  sank  into  a  helpless  state,  and  reposed 
in  the  arms  of  insensibility.  As  we  had  now  arrived  within 
the  dominions  of  the  British,  and  were  not  only  guarded  by  a 
number  of  the  Indians  who  were  not  under  the  power  of  in- 
toxication, but  watched  by  the  enemy's  subjects  resident  at 
that  place,  we  could  find  no  opportunity  to  make  our  escape. 

The  next  morning,  which  was  the  sixth  day  of  our  march, 
we  started  for  St.  John's,  and  arrived  there  that  day.  At  this 
place,  likewise,  the  Indians  found  a  plenty  of  ardent  spirits, 
by  a  too  free  use  of  which  they  became  more  enraged,  if  pos- 
sible, than  before. 

They  now  began  to  threaten  the  lives  of  all  the  captives 


......^m 


220 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


whose  faces  were  not  painted,  as  the  face  being  painted  was  a 
dirttinguishing  mark  put  upon  those  whom  they  designed  not 

to  kill. 

As  I  was  not  painted,  one  of  the  Indians,  under  the  influ- 
2nce  of  intoxication  and  brutal  rage,  like  many  white  people, 
more  sagacious  than  humane,  came  up  to  me,  and,  pointing  a 
gun  directly  at  my  head,  cocked  it,  and  was  about  to  fire, 
when  an  old  Indian,  who  was  my  new  master,  knocked  it 
aside,  pushed  him  backwards  upon  the  ground,  and  took  a 
bottle  of  rum,  and,  putting  it  to  his  mouth,  turned  down  his 
throat  a  considerable  quantity,  left  him,  and  went  on. 

The  punishment  seemed  in  no  way  to  displease  the  crim- 
inal :  he  wished  he  would  continue  to  punish  him  through  the 
day  in  the  same  manner ;  regarding  the  momentary  gratifica- 
tion of  appetite  more  than  all  other  blessings  of  life,  or  even 

life  itself. 

They  now  procured  some  paint  and  painted  my  face,  which 
greatly  appeased  the  rage  of  those  who,  before,  had  been  ap- 
parently determined  to  take  my  life.     I  now  received  their 
marks  of  friendship,  nor  felt  myself  in  danger  of  becoming 
the  subject  of  their  fatal  enmity.     Clothed  with  an  Indian 
blanket,  with  my  hands  and  my  face  painted,  and  possessing 
activity  equal  to  any  of  them,  they  appeared  to  be  willing  I 
should  live  with  them  and  be  accounted  as  one  of  their  number. 
We  arrived  at   Caghnewaga  on  the  seventh  day  of  our 
march.     Thus  I  found  myself,  within  the  space  of  seven  days, 
removed  from  my  home  and  from  all  my  relatives  the  dis- 
tance of  about  three  hundred  miles,  almost  destitute  of  cloth- 
ing, entirely  without  money,  with  no  other  associates  than  a 
race  of  sa\age  Indians,  whose  language  I  could  not  under- 
stand, whose  diet  was  unsavory  and  unwholesome,  whose  "  ten- 
.der  mercies  are  cruel,"  barbarism  their  civility,  no  pardon  to 
an  enemy  their  established  creed,  and  presented  with  no  other 
prospect  for  the  future  than  a  captivity  for  hfe,  a  final  sep- 
aration from  all  earthly  friends,  and  situated  in  an  enemy's 
country. 


CAPTlVltY    OF   ZAbOCK    STEELE. 


221 


Itt  short,  siripped  of  every  comfort  that  sweetens  life  ex- 
cept the  "one  thing  needful,  which  the  world  can  neither  give 
nor  take  away,"  my  temporal  prospects  were  banished  and 
lost  fi  rever.  No  earthly  friends  to  administer  consolation  or 
with  tvhom  to  sympathize,  nor  hope  of  escape  to  feed  upon, 
truly,  humble  submission  to  the  will  of  Heaven,  and  an  entire 
"  trust  in  the  Lord,"  was  the  only  balm  afforded  me. 

"  A  soul  prepared  for  such  a  state  as  this 
Ib  heir  expectant  to  immortal  bliss." 

Some  days  after  we  arrived  at  Caghnewaga,  an  old  man  by 
the  name  of  Philips,  whose  silver  locks  bespoke  the  experi- 
ence of  many  winters ;  whose  visage  indicated  the  trials,  sor- 
rows, and  afflictions  of  a  long  and  wretched  captivity  ;  whose 
Wrinkled  face  and  withered  hands  witnessed  the  sufferings  of 
many  hardships,  and  presented  to  me  a  solemn  and  awful 
token  of  what  I  myself  might  expect  to  suffer,— came  and  told 
me  that  I  was  about  to  be  adopted  into  one  of  the  Indian  fam- 
ilies, to  fill  the  place  of  one  whom  they  had  lost  on  their 
expedition  to  Royalton. 

M:-.  Philips  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  western  part  of  the 

f?:ate  of  New  York,  by  the  Indians,  in  his  youthful  days,  and, 

-fy»  been  adapted  into  one  of  their  families,  had  always 

•ith  them.     He  had  retained  his  knowledge  of  the 

I-  '^nguage,  and  served  as  an  interpreter  for  the  tribe. 

'^   -  ceremonyof  my  own  adoption,  as  well  as  that  of  many 

other  of  the  prisoners,  afforded  no  small  degree  of  diversion. 

The  scene  presented  to  view  a  spectacle  of  an  assemblage  of 

barbarism  assuming  the  appearance  of  civilization. 

AH  the  Indians,  both  male  and  female,  together  with  the 
prisoners,  assembled  and  formed  a  circle,  within  which  one 
of  their  chiefs,  standing  upon  a  stage  erected  for  the  purpose, 
harangued  the  audience  in  the  Indian  tongue.  Although  I 
could  not  understand  his  language,  yet  I  could  plain ly°dls- 
cover  a  great  share  of  native  elonuenc«.  Hi«  an^Anh  «.«»  «f 
19* 


222 


INDIAN    NARRATIVES. 


considerable  length,  and  its  effect  obviously  manifested  weight 
of  argument,  solemnity  of  thought,  and  at  least  human  sensi- 
bility.  I  was  placed  near  by  his  side,  and  had  a  fair  view  of 
the  whole  circle.  After  he  had  ended  his  speech  an  old 
squaw  came  and  took  me  by  the  hand  and  led  me  to  her  wig- 
wam,  where  she  dressed  me  in  a  red  coat,  with  a  ruffle  in  my 
bosom,  and  ordered  me  to  call  her  mother.  She  could  speak 
English  tolerably  well;  but  was  very  poor,  and  therefore  una- 
ble  to  furnish  me  with  very  sumptuous  fare.  My  food  was 
rather  beneath  a  savage  mediocrity  ;  though  no  doubt  my  new 
mother  endeavored  as  far  as  lay  in  her  power  to  endear  the 
affections  of  her  newly-adopted  yet  ill-natured  son. 

I  found  the  appellation  of  mother  highly  pleased  the  tawny 
jade,  which  proportionably  mcreased  my  disgust,  already  in- 
tolerable ;  and,  instead  of  producing  contentment  of  mind, 
added  disquietude  to  affliction  and  sorrow. 

As  I  was  blefised  with  an  excellent  voice  for  singing,  I  was 
the  more  beloved  by,  and,  on  that  account,  received  much 
better  treatment  from,  my  new  mother,  as  well  as  from  other 

Indians. 

I  was  allowed  the  privilege  of  visiting  any  part  of  the  vil- 
lage in  the  daytime,  and  was  received  with  marks  of  fraternal 
affection  and  treated  with  all  the  civility  an  Indian  is  capable 

to  bestow. 

A  prisoner,  by  the  name  of  Belknap,  was  set  about  hewmg 
some  poles  for  a  stable  floor  while  his  Indian  master  held 
them  for  him.  As  he  hewed,  the  Indian,  sitting  upon  the  pole, 
suffered  it  gradually  to  turn  over,  though  unperceived  by  him  ; 
which  occasioned  the  workman,  who  saw  its  operation,  laugh- 
ing in  his  sleeves,  to  hew  quite  round  the  stick,  in  hewing 
from  end  to  end.  Thinking  that  Belknap  knew  no  better,  the 
Indian  endeavored  to  instruct  him.  After  trying  several  poles 
with  the  same  success,  the  Indian,  filled  with  impatience  for 
this  untractable  pupil,  with  his  eyes  on  fire,  left  him  and  called 
hi«  interpreter  to  make  his  wishes  more  distinctly  known ;  to 


CAPTIVITV   OF   ZAUOCK    8TKKLE. 


933 


weight 
1  sensi- 
view  of 

an  old 
ler  wig- 
e  in  my 
Id  speak 
ire  una- 
bod  was 
my  new 
dear  the 

le  tawny 
eady  in- 
)f  mind, 

ig,  I  was 
>d  much 
)m  other 

I  the  vil- 
fraternal 
3  capable 

It  hewing 
ster  held 
the  pole, 
i  by  him ; 
)n,  laugh- 
n  hewing 
tetter,  the 
eral  poles 
itience  for 
and  called 
;nown;  to 


whom  Belknap  declared,  that  he  did  well  underafand  the 
wishes  of  the  Indian,  and  was  determined  to  avoid  doing 
his  will. 

After  remaining  in  this  condition  n  few  weeks,  finding  the 
prisoners  very  incorrigible,  and  wishing  for  the  reward  they 
might  obtain  for  them,  information  was  given  the  prisoners 
that  they  might  be  delivered  over  to  the  British  at  Montreal 
as  prisoners  of  war,  or  continue  with  the  Indians,  as  they 
should  choose. 

We  sought  the  advice  of  an  English  gentleman,  by  the 
name  of  Stacy,  resident  in  the  village  of  Caghnewaga,  who 
had  married  a  squaw  for  his  wife,  and  was  extensively  ac- 
quainted, not  only  with  the  affairs  of  the  Indians,  but  with  the 
citizens  of  Montreal.  He  appeared  to  be  a  man  of  integrity 
an^  veracity,  was  employed  in  merchandise,  and  also  served 
as  one  of  their  interpreters. 

I  was  advised  by  Mr.  Stacy  to  be  delivered  into  the  hands 
of  the  British.  He  said  I  might  doubtless  obtain  leave  to 
dwell  in  some  family  of  a  private  gentleman  until  I  should 
be  exchanged. 

Encouraged  by  the  prospect  of  enjoying  the  company  of 
civilized  people,  and  flattered  with  the  idea  of  being  soon  ex- 
changed, and  thereby  enabled  to  return  once  more  to  see  my 
friends  in  Connecticut,  I  made  choice  to  be  given  up  to  the 
British.     All  the  captives  did  likewise. 

We  were  all  conducted  to  Montreal,  by  the  Indians,  in  the 
latter  part  of  November,  1780,  and  there  "sold  for  a  half 
joe  "  each.  Most  of  the  captives  were  young,  and  remarka- 
bly robust,  healthy,  and  vigorous.  I  was  now  almost  twenty- 
two  years  of  age.  To  be  compelled  to  spend  the  vigor  of  my 
days  in  useless  confinement  was  a  source  of  grief  and  pain 
to  my  mind ;  but  I  could  see  no  way  of  escape.  The  wisdom 
of  God  I  found  to  be  unsearchable  indeed.  I  felt,  however 
a  good  degree  of  submission  to  the  providence  of  the  Most 
High,  and  a  willingness  to  "  accept  of  the  punishment  of  mine 
iniquities." 


224 


INDIAN    NAftRATIVES. 


We  found  at  the  city  of  Montreal  about  one  hundred  and 
ieventy  prisoners,  Bome  of  whom  were  made  captives  by  the 
Indians  in  different  parts  of  America,  and  others  had  been 
taken  prisoners  of  war  in  forts  by  capitulation  and  by  con- 
quest. Here  we  could  see  women  and  children,  who  had 
fallen  the  victims  of  savage  captivity,  weeping  and  mourning 
their  fate,  whose  tears,  trickling  down  their  cheeks,  bespoke 
the  language  of  their  hearts.  It  was  enough  to  melt  the  heart 
of  stone  with  grief  to  behold  the  bosoms  of  the  "  poor  widows  " 
heaving  with  sighs  and  to  hear  their  groans  }  while  the  com- 
panions of  their  youth,  their  bosom  friends  and  partners  in 
life,  were  no  more,  having  spilled  their  blood  and  laid  down 
their  lives  in  defence  of  their  country,  their  families,  and  their 
firesides. 

Here  I  beheld  the  orphan,  fatherless  and  motherless,  whose 
tender  age  called  for  compassion  and  required  the  kind  pro- 
tection of  an  affectionate  mother,  whose  infantile  mind  ren- 
dered it  incapable  of  telling  its  name,  the  place  of  its  birth, 
or  giving  any  information  respecting  itself  or  its  parents. 

This  led  me  to  consider  my  own  sufferings  comparatively 
small ;  and  a  sense  of  my  own  wretched  condition  became  lost 
in  the  feelings  of  compassion  for  these  unhappy  widows  and 
orphans. 

We  were  put  into  a  large  building,  culled  the  Old  Regal 
Church,  with  the  other  prisoners,  in  which  we  were  kept 
several  days,  when  we  were  removed  into  a  large  stone  build- 
ing, fitted  up  for  the  purpose,  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  upon 
the  shore  of  the  River  St.  Lawrence. 

I  often  made  application  for  liberty  to  take  quarters  in  the 
family  of  some  private  gentleman,  where  I  might  enjoy  the 
advantages  of  a  common  slave  until  I  should  be  able  to  pro- 
cure a  ransom  or  be  exchanged,  urging  the  manner  of  my 
being  taken  and  my  destitute  situation  as  arguments  in  my 
favor,  having  been  stripped  of  all  my  property  by  the  Indians 
and  deprived  of  all  ray  change  of  clothes.     But  all  my  efforts 


CAl'TIVIXr    OV   2AD0CK    8TKKLE. 


2S6 


dred  and 
!s  by  the 
lad  been 
I  by  con- 
who  had 
nourning 
,  bespoke 
the  heart 
widows  " 
the  com- 
I'tnera  in 
aid  down 
and  their 

ss,  whose 
kind  pro- 
jind  ren- 
itd  birth, 
;nt8. 

aratively 
;arae  lost 
lows  and 

Id  Regal 
ere  kept 
ne  build- 
ity,  upon 

irs  in  the 
jnjoy  the 
le  to  pro- 
er  of  my 
ts  in  my 
i  Indians 
ly  efforts 


proved  only  a  witness  to  myself  and  my  fdlow-snfferers  of 
that  denthoss  to  the-  calls  of  hm.uu.ity  which  is  always  the 
characttM-istic  of  tyranny  and  despotism. 

Many  of   the  prisoners  as  well  as  myself  had  only  one 
shirt,  and  were  obliged  to  go  without  any  while  we  washed 
that.    Indolence  and  disrcgani  for  cleanliness  prevented  many 
from  doing  this,  which  may  be  reckoned  among  the  many 
causes  that  brought  our  subsequ.'nt  evils  upon  us.     We  were 
allowed,  or  rather  said  to  be  allowed,  one  pound  of  bread  and 
one  pound  of  fresh  beef  per  diry.     But,  through  the  injustice 
and  dishonesty  of  the  person  who  dealt  out  our  allowance,  we 
were  robbed  even  of  a  part  of  this  humble  pittance.     Had 
we  been  able  to  obtain  our  full  allowance  in  provisions  of  good 
quality,  we  should  have  been  able  to  have  furnished  ourselves 
with  other  necessary  articles  ;  but  now  we  were  deprived  of 
the  privilege  by  the  curtailment  of  our  rations.     We  were 
obliged  by  the  calls  of  hunger  to  pound  up  the  beef  bones, 
which  composed  no  small  share  of  our  rations  of  meat,  and 
boil  them  for  broth.     We  had  no  butter,  cheese,  flour,  nor  any 
kind  of  sauce  during  the  winter.     We  were  kept  almost  to- 
tally without  firewood,  having  scarcely  enough  to  enable  us 
to  cook  our  meat.     Our  beds  consisted  principally  of  blan- 
kets, which  they  brought  from  the  hospital  in  all  their  filth. 
This  was  an   apparent   manifestation  of  their  disregard  at 
least  for  the  prisoners,  if  not  a  malevolent  design  to  introduce 
that  contagion  which  should  spread  disease,  desolation,  and 
death  throughout  our  camp. 

Pinched  with  hunger,  half  naked,  and  chilled  with  the  cold, 
we  were  forced  to  have  recourse  to  our  beds,  and  occupy  them 
a  great  part  of  the  time,  though  they  were  the  habitations  of 
filthy  vermin,  tainted  with  the  infections  of  mortal  distempers, 
and  scented  with  the  nauseous  smell  of  the  dying  and  the 
dead. 

The  complicated  collection  of  people  of  different  habits, 
comprising  almost  every  kind  of  foul  and  vicious  character, 


Vin 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES, 


and  the  combination  of  so  many  events  either  of  which  should 
seem  alone  suflicient  to  create  disease,  caused  a  general  and 
universal  prevalence  of  the  itch. 

Our  close  confinement  was,  to  some  of  the  prisoners,  a 
source  of  grief;  to  others  a  cloak  of  indulgence  in  laziness; 
while  to  all  it  was  the  mother  of  disease,  the  harbinger  of 

pain. 

We  suffered  so  much  with  hunger  that  we  should  have 
thankfully  "  fed  upon  the  crums  that  fell  from  the  rich  man's 
table;"  and  so  great  were  our  afflictions  that  we  should  have 
gladly  caressed  the  "  dog  that  had  come  and  licked  our  sores." 

While  I  was  a  captive  with  the  Indians  I  was  in  sorrow, 
and  "  desired  a  better  country."  And  I  had  not  experienced 
the  "trial  of  cruel  mockings  and  scourgings,  of  bonds  and 
imprisonment,"  sufficiently  to  enable  me  to  say  with  Paul,  "  I 
have  learned  in  whatsoever  state  I  am  therewith  to  be  con- 
tent." When  we  were  put  into  the  hands  of  the  Brit  sh 
«  we  looked  for  peace,  but  no  good  came  ;  and  for  a  time  of 
health,  and  beheld  trouble."  Indeed,  it  may  justly  be  said  of 
them,  "They  turned  the  needy  out  of  the  way;  they  caused 
the  naked  to  lodge  without  clothing,  that  they  have  no  cover- 
ing in  the  cold ;  they  pluck  the  fatherless  from  the  breast, 
and  take  a  pledge  of  the  poor ;  they  cause  him  to  go  naked 
without  clothing,  and  they  take  away  the  sheaf  from  the  hun- 
gry."  (Job  xxiv.  4-7,  10.)  I  pleaded  that  they  would  "make 
me  as  one  of  their  hired  servants  ;  "  but  they  would  not. 

In  the  spring,  after  being  "  brought  low,  through  oppres- 
sion, affliction,  and  sorrow,"  we  were  supplied  with  salt  pork, 
bread,  oatmeal,  and  peas  in  abundance.  As  we  had  long 
been  almost  starved,  our  avidity  for  the  food  which  was  now 
before  us  may  more  easily  be  imagined  than  described.  Let 
it  suffice  us  to  say,  that  none  ate  sparingly,  but  all  greedily. 
Indeed,  some  seemed  not  only  anxious  to  satisfy  hunger,  but 
determined  to  revenge  for  their  past  sufferings.  This  sudden 
repletion  of  our  wants  produced  the  scurvy  among  the  pris- 


lich  should 
eneral  and 

risonera,  a 
1  laziness; 
irbinger  of 

lould  have 

rich  man's 

hould  have 

our  sores." 

in  sorrow, 

xperienced 

bonds  and 

:h  Paul,  "  I 

to  be  con- 

the  Brit  sh 

ir  a  time  of 

T  be  said  of 

they  caused 

e  no  cover- 

the  breast, 

o  go  naked 

)m  the  hun- 

ould  "  make 

lid  not. 

]gh  oppres- 

ti  salt  pork, 

'e  had  long 

ich  was  now 

iribed.     Let 

ill  greedily. 

hunger,  but 

This  sudden 

ing  the  pris" 


OAPTlVnr    OK   ZADOCK    STKELE. 


w 


oners,  which  tlireatened  death  to  every  one.     Reiterated  sighs 
and  dying  groans  now  filled  our  camp. 

To  such  an  alarming  degree  did  this  dreadful  disease  pre- 
vail that  many  were  obliged  to  be  removed  to  the  hospital 
for  relief;  distress  and  anguish  pervaded  the  whole  body  of 
the  prisoners  ;  and  the  citizens  of  Montreal,  alarmed,  perhaps, 
for  their  own  safety,  seemed  to  feel  anxious  for  our  relief. 
But  justice  requires  I  should  state  that  we  received  at  this 
time  all  that  kind  attention  which  was  due  to  our  wretched 
condition  and  every  favor  in  the  power  of  our  keepers  to  be- 
stow ;  while  the  inhabitants  manifested  a  humane  disposition, 
and  displayed  the  generous  feelings  of  pity  and  tender  com- 
passion.    In  short,  conscious  that  they,  in  truth,  had  all  par- 
tially contributed  to  increase  our  miseries,  they  seemed  to  feel 
a  relenting  for  their  past  misconduct,  which  excited  them  to 
use  their  utmost  exertion  to  exonerate  themselves  from  guilt 
by  their  subsequent  good  offices  for  our  relief. 

They  furnished  us  with  green  herbs  and  every  thing  which 
was  adapted  to  our  disorders  or  calculated  for  our  comfort 
and  recovery.  By  these  means  our  health  was  fully  restored, 
gratitude  and  joy  sat  smiling  on  every  countenance,  and  songs 
of  deliverance  dwelt  on  every  tongue.  Pain  now  gave  place 
to  pleasure,  sorrow  fled  as  happiness  aj)proached,  murmurs 
and  complaints  which  had  long  been  the  universal  cry  now 
were  heard  no  more,  and  quietude  was  felt  in  every  breast. 

After  our  recovery  we  were  allowed  the  privilege  of  a  yard, 
of  some  rods  square  in  extent,  by  which  we  were  enabled  to 
exercise  for  the  preservation  of  our  health.  But  at  length 
some  of  the  prisoners  made  their  escape,  which  occasioned 
all  the  rest  to  be  put  into  close  confinement  and  kept  under 
lock  and  key.  We  were  supplied,  however,  with  all  the  com- 
forts of  life,  so  far  as  our  close  confinement  would  permit. 

In  October,  1781,  all  the  prisoners  were  removed  to  an 
island  in  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  called  Prison  Island,  about 

J  _,„   ..i.sfr,:,   au\3t\i    use  ciijr  ui    J.uuutrt;ui,   iXiXi^   opposite  IQ 


228 


1N1>1AN    NAKKATIVES. 


a  place  called  Cateau  du  Lac.     Here  we  were  furnished  with 
a  full  supply  of  wholesome  food  during  our  confinement  on 

the  island. 

This  island  is  situated  a  little  below  the  Lake  St.  Francis, 
which  is  formed  by  a  large  swell  in  the  River  St.  Lawrence, 
and  was  considered  a  very  eligible  place  for  the  confinement 
of  the  prisoners.  Indeed,  it  was  thought  impossible  that  any 
person  destitute  of  boats  should  be  able  to  escape  without 
being  drowned,  as  the  water  ran  with  the  utmost  velocity  on 
each  side  of  the  island.  We  were,  therefore,  allowed  the 
liberty  of  traversing  the  whole  island,  which  contained  about 

twenty  acres. 

Guarded  by  a  company  of  refugees  and  tories  possessing 
as  little  humanity  as  ^/atriotisra,  and  having  long  been  the 
miserable  sufferers  of  a  wretched  captivity  and  painful  impris- 
onment, many  of  the  prisoners  attempted  to  make  their  escape 
by  swimming  down  the  current  the  distance  of  three  miles. 
But  few  succeeded,  while  some  were  drowned  in  the  hazard- 
ous attempt.     The  captain  of  the  guard,  whose  name  was 
M' Daniel,  was  a  tory,  and  as  totally  devoid  of  humanity  and 
generosity  as  the  Arab  who  traverses  the  deserts  of  Africa. 
His  conduct  towards  the  prisoners  was  such  as  ought  to  stamp 
his  character  with  infamy  and  disgrace.     Cruelty  to  the  pris- 
oners seemed  to  be  his  greatest  delight.     I  once  saw  one  of 
the  prisoners  plunge  into  the  river  in  the  daytime  and  swim 
down  the  current  the  distance  of  three  miles,  but  was  discov- 
ered by  M'Daniel  soon  after  he  started,  who  ordered  him  to  be 
shot  before  he  should  ever  reach  shore  ;  but  a  British  soldier, 
possessing  more  humanity  than  his  commander,  waded  into 
the  river  and  took  hold  of  the  trembling  prisoner,  almost  ex- 
hausted, declaring,  "  if  the  prisoner  was  shot,  he  would  be 

likewise." 

The  malignant  disposition  of  M'Daniel  and  the  invidious 
character  of  the  guard  induced  the  prisoners  to  seek  oppor- 

i zj. 1  — ~.c^^„t-  nlrnr^af  (^trafv  Aartrrof  t{\  pffpnf  fViPir  pannnft. 


CAPTIVIXr    OF   ZADOClt    STEKLE, 


229 


But  time  soon  rolled  away,  till  winter  approached,  without 
bringing  to  our  view  that  propitious  moment  which  could 
afibrd  the  slightest  hope  of  success  in  the  attempt.  On .  the 
one  hand,  the  eye  of  an  implacable  foe  was  upon  us,  with  ran- 
cor, malice,  and  revenge  in  his  bosom,  and  the  implements  of 
destruction  in  his  hand  •  and  on  the  other,  the  rapid  current 
of  the  stream  threatened  us  with  death  if  we  approached  ; 
while  the  foaming  billows,  roaring  in  a  voice  like  thunder, 
bade  us  beware. 

Desperate,  indeed,  must  be  the  attempt  for  any  one  know- 
ingly to  plunge  himself  into  the  jaws  of  death  to  escape  from 
trouble. 

At  the  approach  of  winter,  the  ice  below  the  island  rendered 
it  visibly  and  utterly  impossible  to  escape  alive.  We  were, 
therefore,  now  forced  into  submission,  and  had  only  to  consult 
together  upon  those  measures  which  should  be  most  likely  to 
promote  our  own  happiness  while  we  waited  the  return  of 
spring. 

In  January  we  were  ordered  by  M'Daniel  to  shovel  the 
snow  for  a  path,  in  which  the  guard  were  to  travel  while  on 
their  duty. 

Regarding  the  proverb  of  Solomon  as  worthy  of  our  notice, 
that  "  it  is  an  honor  for  a  man  to  cease  from  strife,"  we  com- 
plied with  the  demand,  thus  sacrificing  our  rights  on  the  altar 
of  peace.  But  now,  finding  by  ocular  demonstration  the 
verity  of  a  like  proverb  of  the  same  wise  man,  that  "  every 
fool  will  be  meddling,"  we  unanimously  agreed  to  disobey  all 
similar  orders  and  every  command  which  should  be  after- 
wards given  contrary  to  right.  We  were  not  insensible  that 
the  prisoner,  though  unable  to  defend,  was  possessed  of  certain 
inalienable  rights,  which  we  resolved  to  assert,  and  refuse 
obedience  to  the  tyrant  who  should  attempt  to  encroach  upon 
them.  The  time  soon  arrived  when  duty  called  us  boldly  to 
assert  our  rights,  and  manly  firmness  forbade  submission. 

Vfe  were  again  commanded  by  M'Daniel  to  shovel  the 
90 


2S0 


INDIAN    NARKATIVKS. 


snow,  to  make  a  path  for  the  guard  to  ti-avel  in ;  while  they 
themselves  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait  our  toil.     Disdain- 
ing to  become  slaves,  we  had  universally  determined  to  reject 
their  unauthorized  servitude.     I  therefore  informed  the  in- 
famous M'Daniel  what  was  our  unanimous   resolution,  and 
told  him  I  feared  less  what  he  should  dare  to  do  than  I  did 
the  consequences  of  yielding  to  the  lawless  requisitions  of  a 
petty  tyrant.     Enraged  at  the  opposition  of  the  prisoners  to 
his  arbitrary  commands,  and  more  highly  exasperated  against 
me  as  the  organ,  he  directed  me  to  be  put  in  irons  and  carried 
to  the  guard  house.     After  uttering  the  most  dreadful  threats 
and  horrid  imprecations,  and  finding  I  v/as  not  easily  terrified 
nor  readily  forced  to  abandon  my  rights,  he  carried  his  order 
into  execution,  took  me  to  the  guard  house,  put  me  in  irons, 
and  kept  me  there  during  the  whole  day  till  night,  when  he 
came  and  repeated  his  threats  of  torture  and  death  in  case  I 
continued  to  refuse  compliance.    But  still  finding  me  unmoved 
in  my  determination,  and  that  "  hatred  stirreth  up  strifes,"  he 
ordered  me  to  be  kept  in  irons  till  nine  o'clock  at  night  with- 
out food  and  then  sent  back  to  my  barrack. 

This  was  accordingly  done,  though  some  Dutchmen,  ter- 
rified at  my  fate,  consented  to  his  requirements  and  performed 
the  service  while  I  was  confined  in  the  guard  house.  In  con- 
sequence of  our  refusal  to  comply  with  his  unjust  and  illegal 
demands,  the  most  severe  punishments  and  barbarous  cruel- 
ties were  inflicted  upon  the  prisoners. 

"  To  revenge  upon,"  he  said,  "  no  prisoner  should  be  al- 
lowed to  have  a  fire  another  night  while  they  remained  on 
the  island." 

Accordingly  the  guard  came  into  our  barracks  every  night 
with  large  quantities  of  snow  and  put  out  all  the  fires,  using 
as  much  caution  not  to  leave  a  spark  unquenched  as  though 
the  lives  of  thousands  and  the  wealth  of  a  metropolis  were  at 

stake. 

"Though  speii,  wo  labor  to  believe  it  true." 


CAPTIVITY    OF   ZADOCK    STEELE. 


231 


What  malice  is  manifest  in  the  breasts  of  those  who  labor 
With  diligence  and  toil  with  pain  to  increase  the  misery  of 
those  who  are  already  wretched  and  groaning  in  sorrow! 

Here  we  beheld  the  depravity  of  man.  Here  we  could  see 
the  fulfilment  of  that  passage  of  holy  writ  which  declares  that, 
''because  sentence  against  an  evil  work  is  not  executed  speed- 
ily, therefore  the  heart  of  the  sons  of  men  is  fully  set  in  them 
to  do  evil." 

Here  we  could  behold  a  full  display  of  the  seven  abomina- 
tions in  the  sight  of  God :  "  A  proud  look,  a  lying  tongue,  and 
hands  that  shed  innocent  blood,  a  heart  that  deviseth  wicked 
imaginations,  feet  that  be  swift  in  running  to  mischief,  a  false 
witness  that  speaketh  lies,  and  him  that  soweth  discord  among 
brethren."     (Prov.  vi.  16,  &c.) 

Here  we  could  see  monsters  in  human  shape  feeding  upon 
revenge ;  for  the  labor  which  they  unjustly  required  of  us 
was  not  a  tenth  part  of  what  they  performed  every  night  by 
putting  out  our  fires  to  punish  us  for  non-compliance  with  their 
tyrannical  demands.  But,  possessing  the  spirit  of  freemen, 
we  "chose  rather  to  suffer  affliction"  than  to  become  the 
slaves  of  a  set  of  despicable  refugees  and  tories,  feeling  as- 
sured that  our  affliction  would  afford  us  more  consolation  in 
the  hour  of  reflection  than  could  be  found  in  a  servitude  im- 
posed upon  us  by  an  infamous  renegado. 

As  our  barracks  were  very  cold  and  open,  and  being  scan- 
tily clothed,  we  suffered  greatly  for  want  of  fire,  to  support 
which  we  were  willing  to  get  wood  ourselves.  But  our  keep- 
ers chose  rather  to  suffer  pain  themselves  than  to  permit  us 
to  enjoy  comfort. 

M'Daniel,  however,  was  called  away,  and  succeeded  by  one 
M'Kelpin  in  command.  He  was  also  a  refugee,  the  son  of  a 
tory,  and  had  the  appearance  of  a  raw  boy  not  more  than 
eighteen  or  nineteen  years  old,  whose  very  visage  portended 
evil  and  bade  the  prisoners  prepare  for  trouble. 

His  father,  he  said,  had  received  very  ill  treatment  from 


232 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


■■11 

■I 


the  American  army,  and  he  had  also  shared  with  his  father  in 
the  abuse  for  not  engaging  in  the  rebellion  against  the  British 
government.  As  "  the  rod  is  for  the  back  of  him  that  is  \  oid 
of  understanding,"  we  doubted  ^-^  the  truth  cf  his  statement, 
nor  felt  disposed  to  question  bi  e  received  very  severe 

treatment,  and  more  especially  en  the  station  in  which 
he  was  found  was  taken  into  consideration ;  for  tiiis,  together 
with  the  littleness  of  his  mind  and  the  malignity  of  his  tem- 
per, will  forever  prove  his  want  of  patriotism  and  stamp  his 
indignant  character  with  infamy  and  disgrace  as  long  as  evil 
shall  be  had  in  remembrance. 

His  immature  age  can  be  no  palliation  of  his  crimes,  nor 
admit  of  much  hope  of  his  reformation  by  repentance  ;  for, 
like  all  other  fools,  "  he  hated  knowledge,  and  was  wise  in  his 
own  conceit."     Inheriting  from  his  father  all  the  qualities  of 
a  knave,  and  the  cowardice  of  a  western  savage,  who  looks  for 
security  from  danger  in  his  own  flight  only  or  in  the  strength 
of  his  allies,  he  perverted  the  power  put  into  his  hands  to  do 
good  ;  used  it  as  a  weapon  of  revenge  and  an  instrument  of 
cruelty.     His  paternal  education  was,  at  the  best,  toryism, 
perfectly  congenial  to  his  natural  disposition.     In  short,  "  he 
was  wise  to  do  evil ;  but  to  do  good  he  had  no  knowledge." 
His  first  steps  towards  tyranny  and  oppression  met  no  oppo- 
sition ;  as  we  wished  to  enjoy  peace,  and  were  willing  to  yield 
a  portion  of  our  rights  to  the  enjoyment  of  so  invaluable  a 
blessing.     But  our  indulgence  served  only  to  stimulate  him 
in  the  course  of  revengeful  tyranny;  and  he  seemed  the  more 
angry,  as  if  "  coals  of  fire  were  heaped  upon  his  head." 

Manifesting  a  desire  to  meet  with  opposition,  by  using  every 
exertion  to  provoke  to  rage,  he  ordered  the  prisoners  to  shovel 
the  snow  from  the  door  of  his  own  house.  As  the  prisoners 
discovered  in  him  a  settled  determination  to  pursue  compli- 
ance with  greater  and  more  grievous  burdens  until  he  could 
meet  a  refusal  to  comply,  we  resolved  to  reject  all  further  en- 
croachments upon  our  rights.     We  therefore  refused  to  obey 


CAPTIVITY   OF   2AD0CK   STEELE. 


23a 


either  in 
'  British 
t  is  ^  oid 
atement, 
y  severe 
n  which 
together 
his  tera- 
;amp  his 
r  as  evil 

imes,  nor 
nee  ;  for, 
ise  in  his 
ilities  of 
looks  for 

strength 
ids  to  do 
jment  of 

toryism, 
ihort,  "  he 
owledge." 
no  oppo- 
g  to  yield 
aluable  a 
ulate  him 
I  the  more 
ad." 

sing  every 
s  to  shovel 

prisoners 
le  compli- 
l  he  could 
[urtlier  en- 
2d  to  obey 


Ins  arbitraiy  commands  any  longer.     As  there  was  a  fort  di- 
rectly opposite  the  island  where  a  company  of  soldiers  were 
stationed,  we  feared  the  consequences  of  a  revolt,  and  could 
only  retuse  our  obedience  without  making  any  actual  resist- 
ance.    The  prisoner  to  whom  he  addressed  himself  possessed 
courage  equal  to  the  most  trying  scene,  and,  choosing  rather 
to  suffer  an  honorable  death  in  defence  of  his  rights  than  to 
endure  an  ignominious  life  of  captive  slavery,  he  met  the  in- 
famous M'Kelpiu  with  firmness  and  intrepidity,  although  he 
had  no  prospects  of  any  thing  but  to  endure  extreme  torture, 
it  not  death  itself.     And  this  he  was  the  more  inclined  to  do, 
since  it  was  the  avowcul  object   of  the  infamous  villain  "  to 
wreak  his  vengeance  upon  the  unhappy  prisoners  for  injuries," 
which  he  said  he  had  received  from  men  who  were  entire 
strangers  to  us,  and  in  which  abuse  he  well  knew  we  took  no 
agency  or  even  had  any  knowledge. 

When  the  prisoner  refused  compliance,  M'Kelpin  came  up 
with  a  bayonet  pointing  directly  at  him,  and  thrust  it  within 
a  few  inches  of  his  breast,  threatening  to  run  him  through 
the  heart  if  he  did  not  immediately  comply.     But  the  pris- 
oner, continuing  firm  in  his  obstinacy,  replied  with  dauntless 
courage  and  deliberate  coolness.  "  Run  me  through  if  you 
dare  ;  I  fear  you  not."     Enraged  at  this  reply,  M'Kelpin  re- 
peated his  threats  with  reih  ubled  vehemence  and  infuriated 
madness,  and  again  rushed  at  the  prisoner  with  the  greatest 
violence,  thus  endeavoring  to  terrify  him  into  submission  to 
his  will.     But  the  prisoner,  with  all  the  appearance  of  a  full 
sense  of  der th  and  supported  by  the  rectitude  of  his  moti.es, 
met  M'Kelpin  with  manly  firmness  and  true  heroism,  putting 
his  hand  upon  his  breast,  and  telling  the  impertinent  fugitive 
that  "he  had  resolved  to  die  before  he  should  yield  obedi- 
ence to  the  arbitrary  command.-;  of  one  whose  name  was  sy- 
nonymous with  disgrace,  and  whose  very  visage  bespoke  the 
corruptions  of  a  heart  loaded  with  every  thin^^  that  is  requi- 
site to  fit  a  soul  to  become  an   inhabitant  of  (he  regions  of 
•20*        ' 


284 


INDIAN    NARUATIVKS. 


I 


Mackness  and  darkni^s*  forever."  Alivr  relocating  \m  threats 
and  menaces  several  times,  and  each  time  receivmg  the  most 
unqualifted  denials  from  the  prisoner,  he  proceeded  to  punish 
all  such  as  refused  compliance  with  his  request.  He  associ- 
ated with  threats  the  most  daring  oaths  and  awful  impreca- 
tions,  as  if  he  would  endeavor  to  establish  his  own  authority 
by  manifesting  to  the  world  his  want  of  the  fear  of  God  and 
a  disregard  of  every  thing  that  is  good. 

Like  many  of  the  present  day,  he  appeared  to  imagine 
that  he  should  be  thought  to  possess  uncommon  courage  and 
power  unlimited  if  he  dared,  openly  and  without  fear,  to  blas- 
pheme the  name  of  Him  who  is  the  Ruler  of  all  people,  ot 
every  language,  tongue,  and  nation.     Finding  all  his  threat- 
enings  in  vain,  and  discovering  that  no  one  would  yield  obe- 
dience  to  his  requirements,  forgetting   or  disregarding  the 
injustice  of  his  claim,  and  lost  in  the  torrent  of  anger  and 
revenge,  he  came,  with  a  guard  of  soldiers  possessing  feelings 
in  perfect  coincidence  with  his  own,  and  took  the  defenceless 
yet  dauntless  prisoner  whom  he  had  threatened  to  run  through 
with  his  bayonet,  conveyed  him  to  the  barrack,  which  was 
used  for  an  ash  house,  put  him  in  irons,  and  left  him  to  sutfer 
in  the  cold  the  malicious  gratification  of  his  malignant  and 
revengeful  disposition  ;  telling  the  innocent  and  unfortunate 
victim  of  his  relentless  fury  that  "  he  was  glad  he  refused  to 
comply  with  his  demands,  because  he  had  long  wanted  and 
had  anxiously  sought  opportunity  to  wreak  his  vengeance 
on  him,  and  gave  the  order  to  shovel  the  snow  from  his  own 
door  for  no  other  purpose  but  to  excite  the  opposition  of  the 
prisoners,  and  thus  find  occasion  to  punish  them,  and  at  the 
same  time  take  revenge  on  them  for  the   abuse   he  had   re- 
ceived from  the  Americans."     He  then   proceeded  to  order 
others  to  shovel  the  snow  ;  and,  being  still  refused  compliance, 
he  threatened  and  confined  in  the  same  manner  as  he  did  the 
first,  until  he  had  collected  together  and  confined  in  that  cold 
barrack  the  number  of  twenty-one,  who  were  all  handcuffed 


CAPTIVITT   OF   ZAUOCK   STKIXK. 


285 


and  chained  to  the  posts  of  the  harra(;k.  This  m\n  in  Janu- 
ary, 1782,  when  the  cold  was  exceeding  severe,  and  hardly 
permitted  a  comfortable  seat  by  the  fireside,  or  admitted  of 
a  lodging  free  from  suffering  in  our  closed  barracks  with  a 
large  quantity  of  blankets. 

Here  they  were  ordered  to  be  kept  in  this  barrack,  with  the 
windows  and  doors  open  to  the  wind  and  snow,  all  that  day 
and  the  next  night.  But  most  of  them  made  their  escape  to 
their  own  barracks  before  the  next  morning,  some  with  frozen 
hands  and  feet,  others  with  their  ears  and  faces  frozen  ;  and, 
indeed,  all  having  some  part  of  their  bodies  frozen,  and  bear- 
ing the  miserable  tokens  of  their  wretched  sufferings. 

But  their  escape,  notwithstanding  the  visible  and  abiding 
marks  of  their  pain  and  distress,  only  exasperated  the  mind 
of  the  unfeeling  M'Kelpin,  and  so  enraged  the  desperate  vil- 
lain  that  he  the  next  day  morning  selected  the  same  pris- 
oners, and,  with  a  heart  harder  than  adamant  and  hands  more 
cruel  than  the  grave,  again  con"ned  them  all  in  irons  and  or- 
dered them  to  be  put  into  the  chamber  of  one  of  the  barracks, 
there  to  be  kept  during  that  day,  the  next  night,  and  the  fol- 
lowing day,  without  provision,  any  food,  or  even  a  quid  of 
tobacco. 

Destitute  of  any  clothing  except  their  wearing  apparel, 
which  was  poor ;  confined  in  irons,  in  a  small,  cold  room  ;  hav- 
ing  no  food  of  any  kind ;  deprived  of  a  luxury  which  habit 
had  rendered  necessary  to  preserve  health  ;  and  groaning 
under  the  severe  pains  of  their  frozen  bodies,  — their  suffer- 
ings  cannot  easily  be  imagined,  far  less  described. 

It  was  my  happy  lot,  however,  not  to  fall  into  this  number 
of  miserable  sufferers  of  human  depravity  who  were  put  into 
the  ash  house  and  in  the  chamber.  But  the  sufferings  which 
I  have  mentioned  were  only  a  prelude  to  more  painful  tor- 
ments  and  greater  barbarities.  They  were  taken  from  the 
barrack  chamber  one  by  one,  carried  to  the  guard  house,  and 
tortured  in  the  most  cruel  manner.     Some  were  surrounded 


236 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


H! 


with  soldiers,  armed  with  guns  and  bayonets  pointing  directly 
at  them,  and  so  near  as  to  render  the  prisoners  unable  to 
move  without  being  pierced  with  the  bayonets  ;  while  the  in- 
famous M'Kelpin  whipped  the  prisoners  and  caned  them  till 
he  had  glutted  his  vengeance.  Who  can  describe  the  inhu- 
scene  ?     To  see  a  prisoner,  the  victim  of  cruelty  and 


man 


wretchedness,  guiltless  and  defenceless,  confined  in  irons  with 
his  hands  behind  him,  ready  to  faint  for  want  of  food,  groan- 
ing under  the  excruciating  pains  of  his  frozen  limbs,  bathed 
in  blood  which  gushed  from  his  mangled  body,  tears  flowing 
from  his  eyes  in  streams,  which  bespoke  in  language  more 
forcible  than  a  voice  like  thunder,  as  they  trickled  down  his 
frozen  cheeks,  the  sorrows  of  a  heart  swollen  with  grief  and 
racked  with  pain.  I  could  say  with  Job,  "  Mine  eye  is  also 
dim  by  reason  of  sorrow,  and  all  my  members  are  as  a 
shadow." 

Others  of  this  unhappy  number  were  hung  up  by  the  neck 
till  nearly  dead,  while  their  hands  were  confined  in  irons  and 
their  faces  black  with  death,  when  they  were  taken  down,  and 
the  irons  which  had  bound  their  hands  jammed  into  their 
mouths  till  they  were  filled  with  blood.  Who  could  behold 
this  and  not  weep  and  mourn  for  the  depravity  of  man  left  to 
himself?  Who  can  witness  a  scene  like  this  without  ac- 
knowledging with  self-application  the  truth  of  those  words 
which  fell  from  our  Savior's  lips  to  the  unbelieving  Jews,  "  Ye 
are  of  your  father  the  devil,  and  the  lusts  of  your  father  ye 
will  do  "  ?  After  enduring  these  horrid  barbarities  and  inhu- 
man tortures,  inflicted  by  men  professing  the  principles  of 
humanity,  the  unhappy  sufterers  were  sent  back  to  their  bar- 
racks, there  to  weep  and  bewail  their  miserable  fate.  Often 
have  my  cheeks  been  wet  with  tears  of  commiseration,  while 
my  heart  ached  within. me,  for  these  unfortunate  sufferers  of 
the  unrestrained  vengeance  of  a  depraved  villain.  Nor  was 
I  left  to  be  reminded  of  their  torture  and  distress  only  by  a 
recollection  of  the  past ;  but  my  eyes  could  witness  the  scars 


fli 


CAFTIVlTir   OF   ZADOCK   STEELE. 


237 


of  wounds  and  behold  the  palefaced  visage  of  death  abiding 
on  the  countenance  of  many,  which  were  received  by  the  cru- 
elties  of  this  horrid  scene.  And,  alas  !  I  needed  only  to  look 
at  myself  and  all  around  me  to  remind  me  of  the  woful  case 
of  those  whose  lot  it.  is  to  fall  into  the  hands  and  become  the 
victims  of  a  revengeful  tyrant,  and  sufler  the  wrath  of  a  man 
totally  devoid  of  mercy,  unrestrained  either  by  the  authority 
of  a  superior,  the  laws  of  his  country,  or  the  fear  of  God. 
Doubtless  many  will  wear  the  marks,  and  thus  bear  witnesn 
of  his  cruelty,  to  their  graves.  ^ 

Emaciated  countenances,  scars,  and  impediment  of  speech 
were  the  visible  marks  of  the  savage  and  inhuman  treatment 
which  they  received  from  the  hand  of  M'Kelpin.     Let  detes- 
tation  be  written  upon  his  character  as  legibly  as  the  marks 
of  depravity  are  to  be  seen  in  his  visage,  and  it  shall  be  a 
lesson  to  his  posterity  to  flee  from  iniquity  and  follow  the  path 
of  virtue.     He  excelled  in  nothing  but  cruelty  and  inhuman- 
ity, and  was  superior  to  none   except  in  the  most  nefarious 
acts  of  iniquity,  tyranny,  and  oppression.     His  highest  am- 
bition  appeared  to  be  to  "heap  up  wrath  against  the  day  of 
wrath,"  and  prepare  himself  to  receive  «  vengeance  due  to 
them  that  know  not  God,  and  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  be  punished  with  everlasting  destruc- 
tion."    He  appeared,  involuntarily,  to  verify  the  truth  of  the 
proverb,  "  He  that  is  soon  angry  dealeth  foolishly  ;  and  a  man 
of  wicked  devices  is  hated."     Out  of  the  abundance  of  the 
heart  he  publicly  declared  "  that  he  had  taken  more  comfort 
in  afflicting  the  prisoners  four  days  than  he  bad  four  years' 
time  previous."    Thin  declaration  requires  no  additional  proof 
to  convince  every  mind  susceptible  of  the  least  sympathetic 
affection  that  he  was  possessed  of  no  better  disposition  than 
the  infernal  spirits,  and  must  be  sufficient  to  stamp  his  name 
with  infamy;  and,  at  the  same  time,  excite  commiseration  in 
the  heart  of  every  person  who  realizes  it  is  by  grace,  and  not 
by  works,  that  he  is  saved  from  falling  into  the  like  wicked- 


288 


INDIAN    NARHATIVES. 


nesfl.     Nor  let  any  man  boast  of  hi»  good  works,  knowing  it 
in  the  gift  of  God  to  possess  charity. 

When  we  review  tins  awful  tlioufjrh  faint  description  of 
the  conduct  of  M'Kelpin,  who  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  civ- 
ilization and  was  favored  witli  the  joyful  tidings  of  "  peace 
on  eartlj  and  good  will  towards  men,"  tilled  with  anger  and  re- 
venge,  nature  cries  within  us,  "  Curse  the  wretch ! "  But  when 
the  meekness  and  pity  of  the  Savior  in  his  dying  agonies 
upon  the  shamefid  and  accursed  tree  are  suffered  to  find  a 
pla«;  in  our  bosoms,  we  are  led  to  cry,  with  him,  "  Father, 
forgive !  "  And  though  the  conflict  between  revenge  and  for- 
giving mercy  be  strong,  yet  the  latter  will  surely  prevail 
whenever  she  is  properly  commanded  and  led  by  the  Spirit 
of  truth. 

I  would  not  intimate  that  I  have  the  power  of  necromancy, 
or  i)retend  to  possess  a  spirit  of  divination ;  but,  from  the  au- 
thority of  holy  writ,  "  this  is  the  portion  of  a  wicked  man  with 
God,  and  the  heritage  of  oppressors,  which  they  shall  receive 
of  the  Almighty.  If  his  children  be  multiplied,  it  is  for  the 
sword  ;  and  his  offspring  shall  not  be  satisfied  with  bread. 
Those  that  remain  of  him  shall  be  buried  in  death,  and  his 
widows  shall  not  weep.  Though  he  heap  up  silver  as  the 
dust,  and  prepare  raiment  as  the  clay,  he  may  prepare  it,  but 
the  just  shall  put  it  on,  and  the  innocent  shall  divide  the  sil- 
ver." I  shall  therefore  leave  this  great  disturber  of  peace 
and  oppressor  of  the  afflicted  to  receive  from  the  hand  of 
"  Him,  who  doeth  all  things  well,"  the  punishment  due  to  his 
wickedness,  or  share  in  the  mercy  offered  to  the  truly  peni- 
tent, hoping  that  he  may  have  already,  by  deep  repentance, 
found  forgiveness,  or  will,  before  his  death,  if  he  is  yet  living, 
taste  the  sweetness  of  redeeming  grace. 

He  tarried  not  long  on  the  island,  though  much  longer  than 
he  was  desired,  when  another  took  his  office  whose  name  I 
do  not  recollect,  who  manifested  a  disposition  for  peace,  es- 
tablished good  order,  appeared  to  have  a  regard  to  the  laws 


CAPTIVIXr    Ot    ZAUOCK    UTIiELE. 


M9 


of  justice,  humanity,  and  benevolcn*ce,  restored  tranquillity 
among  the  prisoners,  and  reconciliation  between  them  and  the 
guard. 

Could  I  recollect  the  name  of  this  person,  I  would  present 
him  to  the  public  as  a  character  worthy  of  imitation ;  and  as 
"peacemakers  shall  be  called  the  children  of  God,"  I  think  I 
am  authorized  by  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  call  him  by  that  dig- 
nifled  and  honorable  title. 

In  the  spring,  complaint  was  made  to  the  British  provincial 
government  against  the  base  M'Kelpin,  which  resulted  only 
in  his  exclusion  from  the  service  of  the  army  with  disgrace. 
The  long  and  successful  rebellion  of  the  colonies  had  greatly 
exasperated  the  British ;  and  M'Kelpin,  being  a  strong  ad- 
herent to  their  government,  loyal  to  his  majesty,  and  having 
been  harshly  treated  for  his  toryism,  doubtless  the  court  by 
which  he  was  tried  was  strongly  though  unjustly  biased  in 
his  favor,  which  greatly  ameliorated  his  punishment. 

In  seedtime  we  were  allowed  the  privilege  to  sow  'rarden 
seeds  and  plant  corn.     This  gave  us  a  prospect  of  beiifg  fur- 
nished  with  not  only  a  mor    full  supply  but  a  greater  variety 
of  food,  if  It  should  prove  our  unhappy  lot  to  be  kept  in  con- 
finement  another  winter.     It  also  gave  the  prisoners  an  op- 
portunity  to  use  proper  exercise  to  preserve  health  and  pre- 
vent  disease  —  a  consideration  of  ^o  small  importance.     But 
disaffected   by  our  former   treatment,  and  fearing  that  the 
afflictions  we  had  once  received  would  again  be  laid  upon  us 
many  chose  to  hazard  their  lives  by  an  attempt  to  swim  down' 
the  rapids.     Some  thus  succeeded  in  making  their  escape 
while  others  only  plunged  themselves  into  the  jaws  of  death! 
This  caused  the  confinement  of  all  who  were  left  behind.' 
The  British  now  set  about  encompassing  our  barrack    with 
pickets  or  barricades,  by  setting  posts  in  the  ground  adjoining 
each  other  and  fastening  them  together. 

Discovering  what  they  were  about  to  do,  several  of  the 
prisoners,  among  whom  I  was  myself  one,  resolved  to  make 


240 


INDIAN    NARHATIVES. 


I 


our  enrleavors  to  effect  our  escape  before  they  had  completed 
the  barricade  and  encircled  our  camp,  which  would  deprive 
us  of  the  liberty  of  the  island.  "We  accordingly  collected 
some  logs  together  on  the  lower  part  of  the  island  for  a  raft, 
carried  some  provisions  for  our  sustenance  on  the  way  home, 
secreted  it  near  the  logs,  and,  at  an  hour  when  we  supposed 
all  were  at  rest,  we  started,  but  had  not  gone  far  when  we 
espied  one  of  the  soldiers  upon  the  bank  of  the  river  em- 
ployed in  dressing  some  fish.  We  then  retui-ned  to  our  bar- 
racks.* Our  attempt  to  escape  now  became  known  to  some 
of  our  fellow-prisoners  by  discovering  our  absence,  who  be- 
trayed our  object  to  our  keepers,  thus  courting  favor  by  the 
deeds  of  treachery.  Having  these  suspicions,  we  improved 
an  opportunity  to  bring  back  our  provisions ;  and  the  next 
day  gave  proof  that  our  suspicions  were  well  founded,  as 
they  then  went  and  rolled  all  the  logs  off  that  part  of  the 
island. 

We  still  were  determined  to  use  every  exertion  and  watch 
for  an  opportunity  to  effect  our  escape  from  confinement 
while  we  saw  their  labors  to  prevent  us.  We  sought,  but 
sought  in  vain.  Time  rolled  away,  till  we  found  ourselves 
enclosed  witli  pickets,  which  rendered  it  almost  impossible  to 
make  our  escape,  as  we  were  not  allowed  to  go  without  this 
enclosure  unattended  by  the  guard,  and  that,  too,  in  tlie  day- 
time only. 

We  were  allowed  to  go  in  the  daytime,  attended  by  one  or 
two  of  the  guard,  and  hoe  our  corn  and  garden  roots.  But 
this  afforded  us  no  opportunity  for  escape,  as  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  swim  the  current  on  either  side  of  the  island  undiscov- 
ered by  the  guard  or  the  soldiers  stationed  in  the  fort  oppo- 
site the  island.  The  prisoners,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  had 
long  been  very  uneasy  and  discontented ;  but,  as  is  usually  the 
case,  a  sense  of  being  confined  caused  still  more  disquietude 
in  tlieir  minds,  and  excited  an  eager  desire  to  be  freed  from 
bondage. 


CAPTIVITY    OF   ZAUOCK    STKiaE. 


241 


The  yard  which  was  surrounded  by  the  pickpts  was  about 
ten  or  fifteen  rods  wide  and  nearly  forty  rods  long,  extending 
lengthwise  of  the  stream.     They  completed  the  yard  some 
time  in  the  month  of  July,  1782.     Having  encouragement  of 
receiving  our  discharge,  by  exchange,  often  held  out  to  us, 
and  seeing  little  prospect  of  succeeding  in  the  hazardous  at- 
tempt to  escape  from  our  confinement,  we  long  waited  with 
great  impatience  for  the  approach  of  that  desirable  event,  aod 
wholly  neglected  to  use  any  exertion  to  gain  our  liberty  by 
flight.     But  we  at  length  perceived  that  their  object  in  giving 
us  repeated  encouragement  of  being  exchanged  was  only  to 
dally  us  with  the  fond  hopes  of  soon  seeing  better  days,  and 
thus  amuse  our  minds  with  fancied  prospects,  while  they  should 
be  enabled  to  rivet  our  chains  or  privately  assassinate  some 
undistinguished  number  of  us.     Of  this  design  we  had  abun- 
dant proof,  or  at  least  of  a  disposition  to  abuse  their  power 
by  rendering  it  subservient  to  the  most  despicable  actions  and 
wicked  purposes  ;  for,  finding  one  of  the  prisoners  alone  in 
the  evening,  a  gang  of  them  took  him,  put  a  rope  round  his 
neck,  threatening  to  stab  him  to  the  heart  if  he  made  any 
noise,  and  were  about  to  hang  him,  when  one  of  the  company, 
staring  him  in  the  face,  with  a  tone  of  disappointment  cried 
out,  "O,  this  is  not  the  one ! "     They  then  took  the  rope  off 
his  neck  and  let  him  ao. 

This  manifested  to  the  prisoner^  either  a  determination 
among  the  guard  to  waylay  some  of  us,  or  a  wish  to  trifle 
with  their  authority  by  creating  fear  in  our  minds  and  thus 
torment  the  afflicted. 

As  we  were  sensible  that  the  guard,  if  disposed,  which  we 
little  doubted,  might  assassinate  one  or  more  of  the  prisoners, 
and,  consigning  the  body  to  the  waters  of  the  river,  keep  the 
transaction  hid  from  the  knowledge  of  any  person  who  should 
not  be  engaged  in  the  horrid  deed,  we  were  led  ever  after- 
wards to  take  the  precaution  never  to  be  found  alone  in  the 
dark  unarmed  with  a  large  scalping  knife,  which  we  kent  in 
21 


242 


INDIAN   NARKATIVE8. 


HI 


our  camp,  and  which  served  as  a  dagger  and  weapon  of  de- 
fence against  a  violent  attack  of  nocturnal  enemies.  Having 
long  been  flattered  with  the  prospect  of  soon  being  set  at  lib- 
erty, and  discovering  an  intention  among  the  guard  privately 
to  assassinate  some  unknown  number  of  us,  we  resolved  to 
make  another  attempt  to  effect  our  escape,  and  thus  free  our- 
selves from  their  brutal  tyranny  and  unhallowed  pretences. 

,"We  had  once  paid  several  dollars  to  one  of  the  guard  to 
suffer  us  to  pass  through  the  gate,  should  he  find  an  opportu- 
nity ;  but  never  had  the  good  fortune  even  to  see  him  again. 

The  plan  we  adopted  was  in  itself  extremely  precarious  as 
to  its  success,  and  afforded  so  little  encouragement,  even  to 
those  who  seemed  to  be  most  anxious  to  obtain  their  freedom, 
that  few  would  engage  in  the  enterprise,  believing  it  would 
be  a  fruitless  attempt  to  obtain  our  object,  which  would  only 
cost  us  pain  and  bring  upon  us  more  sore  trials  and  far  greater 
afflictions. 

Had  we  been  confined  upon  the  main  land,  where  liberty 
from  the  prison  would  have  afforded  us  a  chance  to  retreat 
from  danger,  though  we  should  be  obliged  even  to  pass  the 
gates  of  a  city  surrounded  with  enemies,  having  our  hands 
bound  in  irons  and  our  feet  fettered  with  chains,  yet  our  pros- 
pects of  success  in  our  attempt  to  escape  had  still  been 
brighter  than  now  presented  to  our  view ;  for  then  our  deliv- 
erance from  prison  might  have  given  us  a  passport  to  the  wil- 
derness free  from  danger ;  but  now  our  freedom  from  those 
walls  of  wretchedness  incurred  the  penalty  of  death,  which 
was  annexed  to  our  escape  if  overtaken,  and  brought  us  to 
«'  troubled  waters,"  which  seemed  to  promise  death  inevitable 
to  all  who  should  attempt  to  pass  the  current  even  with  well- 
fitted  boats ;  while  we  had  nothing  in  our  power  but  logs,  fas- 
tened together  with  ropes. 

Our  plan  was,  to  dig  a  passage  under  ground  that  should 
extend  beyond  the  pickets,  which  stood  about  twenty  feet  from 
the  barracks.     It  had  been  our  practice  during  the  summer 


CAPTIVITY    OP   ZADOCK   STEELE. 


248 


to  hang  up  blankets  around  the  bunks  in  which  v/e  slept,  to 
prevent  the  flies  from  troubling  us  while  we  reposed  upon  our 
couch  in  the  daytime. 

We  now  again  hung  up  the  blankets  around  one  of  our 
bunks  in  a  corner  of  the  room,  though  not  to  prevent  being 
disturbed  by  flies,  but  to  hide  ourselves  from  the  face  of  "  ser- 
pents that  will  bite  without  enchantment;  and  a  babbler, 
which  is  no  better." 

Fearing  the  consequence  of  making  our  object  known  to 
the  prisoners  generally,  we  determined  to  keep  it  a  profound 
secret  to  all  except  the  number  who  belonged  to  our  room, 
consisting  of  twelve.  Accordingly,  we  took  up  the  floor,  both 
of  the  bunk  and  barrack,  and  commenced  digging.  If  any  of 
our  fellow-prisoners  or  the  guard  happened  to  come  in  while 
one  was  at  work,  others  would  drown  the  noise  of  his  digging 
by  making  some  noise  with  a  stick  or  with  their  feet,  which 
was  easily  done  without  being  suspected  of  the  design. 

We  dug  in  a  perpendicular  direction  deep  enough  to  have 
a  horizontal  course  leave  the  earth  between  the  barracks  and 
the  pickets,  of  sufficient  depth  to  render  it  safe  for  the  guard 
to  travel  over  the  hole  without  breaking  through.  As  they 
had  dug  a  ditch  along  the  back  side  of  the  barracks  between 
them  and  the  pickets  in  order  to  bank  up  the  walls  of  the 
barracks,  it  became  necessary  for  us  to  dig  a  perpendicular 
course  of  considerable  depth  before  we  could  dig  horizontally, 
to  prevent  any  person  who  might  chance  to  travel  in  the  ditch 
from  breaking  in  and  discovering  our  plan. 

We  had  no  other  tool  to  dig  with  except  a  large  jackknife ; 
nor,  indeed,  could  we  use  any  other  instrument  with  any  ad- 
vantage when  we  came  to  dig  in  a  horizontal  line.  And,  like 
the  animal  that  makes  his  abode  in  the  bosom  of  the  earth 
by  digging  a  subterraneous  passage  to  his  gloomy  cell,  after 
we  had  dug  a  quantity  of  earth  loose,  so  that  we  had  no  room 
to  dig  more,  we  returned  backwards,  drawing  or  scraping  the 
dirt  we  had  dug  with  our  hands  and  arms,  which  we  put  under 
the  floor  of  the  barracks. 


244 


INDIAN   NAliUATIVIiS. 


Our  progress,  as  must  readily  be  perceived,  was  very  slow ; 
though  some  one  of  us  kept  constantly  digging  except  in  the 
hours  of  sleep  and  time  of  taking  refreshment,  alternately 
following  each  other  in  our  turns ;  having  a  dress  prepared 
for  the  purpose  which  each  one  wore  while  at  work  in  this 
dreary  cavern,  where  we  were  groping  in  darkness  at  noon- 
day. Here  we  had  an  opportunity  to  reflect  upon  our  wretch- 
ed condition,  while  our  labor  itself  witnessed  our  sufferings 
and  discontentment.  Here  we  could  pereeive  the  comparative 
state  of  him  who  spiritually  "  walketh  in  darkness  and  hath 
no  light."  Here  it  might,  indeed,  with  propriety  be  said  that 
silence  wept.  "We  succeeded,  however,  in  the  prosecution  of 
our  design  extremely  well,  finding  no  obstacle  in  our  way  till 
we  had  dug  under  the  ditch  before  mentioned,  when  a  heavy 
rain  fell  and  filled  the  ditch  full  of  water,  which  soaked  through 
the  ground  into  our  subterraneous  way  and  filled  the  hole  we 
had  dug  completely  full.  This  was  truly  a  great  misfortune, 
which  dampened  the  feelings  of  every  one  who  had  been  en- 
gaged in  the  arduous  undertaking. 

As  we  had  dug  considerable  distance  and  advanced  nearly 
to  the  pickets,  had  toiled  with  diligence  and  expended  much 
labor,  we  were  unwilling  to  relinquish  the  task  and  submit  to 
the  idea  of  continuing  in  bondage  another  winter.  And  we 
were  the  more  anxious  to  pursue  the  undertaking  and  effect 
our  escape,  because  the  infamous  M' Daniel,  of  whom  I  have 
spoken,  had  now  returned  and  resumed  his  command  over,  us, 
which  gave  us  greater  reason  to  fear  that  we  should  again  be 
compelled  to  undergo  those  tortures  which  he  had  once  in- 
flicted. 

But  it  now  ^>ccame  impossible  any  longer  to  keep  the  mat- 
ter secret  as  we  had  done.  We  therefore  made  known  our 
object  to  all  the  prisoners  who  were  stationed  in  our  line  of 
barracks  ;  and,  receiving  their  universal  and  respective  prom- 
ises not  to  divulge  the  secret  to  any  of  the  prisoners  who  were 
stationed  in  the  other  line  of  barracks,  —  although  few  would 


§iW 


CAPTIVITY   OF   ZADOCK    STEELE. 


245 


assist  us,  considering  it  labor  in  vain,  —  we  resolved  to  perse- 
vere in  the  plan,  and,  if  possible,  effect  our  escape. 

We  now  commenced  dipping  out  the  water  into  a  barrel, 
which  we  emptied  into  a  ditch  that  was  made  to  convey  our 
wash  water  from  the  barracks  into  the  river.  We  dipped  six 
barrels'  full  and  emptied  it  into  the  ditch,  besides  a  considera- 
ble quantity  which  we  put  into  a  clay  pit  under  the  barracks 
where  they  dug  clay  for  their  chimneys ;  and  still  there  was 
much  left  in  our  way. 

The  guard,  no  doubt,  supposed  we  were  washing,  or  they 
would  have  suspected  us.  Nor  yet  can  I  account  for  their 
stupidity  while  they  saw  we  were  in  possession  of  such  a 
quantity  of  water,  which  we  brought  out  of,  without  carrying 
into,  our  barracks. 

We  were  now  obliged  to  lie  half  buried  in  mud  and  water 
while  digging,  which  chilled  our  h  ^-«  benumbed  our  senses, 
and  depressed  our  spirits. 

To  prevent  being  discovered,  when  we  returned  from  our 
toil  we  were  under  the  necessity  of  washing  ourselves  in  a 
large  tub  of  water,  which  we  had  also  placed  behind  our 
blankets  that  were  hung  up  around  our  bunk ;  as  we  now  were 
forced,  on  account  of  the  mud,  to  enter  upon  our  subterrane- 
ous labor  entirely  naked.  Vain  would  be  the  attempt  to  give 
a  description  of  my  feelings  while  at  work  in  this  dreary  cav- 
ern, twenty  feet  under  ground,  wholly  without  clothing,  half 
buried  in  mud,  and  struggling  for  liberty. 

I  was  removed  from  all  my  friends  and  relatives  the  dis- 
tance of  more  than  three  hundred  miles,  and  placed  upon  an 
island  in  the  river,  on  both  sides  of  which  the  water  moved 
over  the  ragged  rocks  with  such  velocity  as  to  appear  white 
to  the  eye  like  a  foaming  billow,  not  less  than  three  miles  in 
length.  Here  I  was  confined  within  the  power,  and  exposed 
to  the  envy,  malice,  and  resentment,  of  an  implacable  enemy. 
Shrouded  in  darkness,  in  the  heart  of  the  earth  where  light 

••^* £'j..v.-**vyf»*uiv,  tUjr  irviij  liiy  HI   tiiu  Hiiic,  aiKi  ray  minu 

21* 


246 


INDIAN   NAKKATIVES. 


was  overwhelmed  with  sorrow.  If  we  refrained  from  digging, 
we  seemed  to  be  threatened  with  death  on  every  side ;  and  if 
we  continued  to  dig,  our  prospect  appeared  as  melancholy  as 
the  grave.  Fear  and  trouble  were  before  us ;  while  our  ab- 
sence from  the  barracks  exposed  us  to  the  danger  of  having 
our  plan  discovered,  which  would  be  sure  to  bring  upon  us 
the  most  awful  tortures,  and  perhaps  even  death  itself.  We 
•chose,  however,  rather  to  hazard  our  lives  in  an  attempt  to 
escape,  though  doubtful  of  success,  than  to  risk  the  conse- 
quences of  remaining  in  confinement. 

When  we  arrived  to  the  picket  we  found  it  was  placed 
upon  a  large  stone.  We  then  dug  to  the  right,  where  we 
found  another,  which  formed  an  angle  with  the  first.  Then, 
turning  to  the  left,  we  also  found  a  third.  All  which  seemed 
10  discourage  my  fellow-laborers,  and  led  them  entirely  to 
give  up  the  object.  But,  being  in  perfect  health  and  in  good 
spirits  myself,  I  went  in  with  a  determination  to  remove  one 
of  these  obstacles,  if  possible,  before  I  returned.  We  had,  by 
this  time,  made  quite  a  large  cavern  near  the  pickets,  which 
gave  me  considerable  chance  to  work.  After  laboring  in  this 
cold,  dismal  place  during  the  space  of  two  hours,  I  succeeded 
in  removing  one  of  the  stones  out  of  the  way,  and,  to  my 
great  joy,  found  that  the  picket  was  hollow  up  a  few  inches 
above  the  ground,  which  emitted  light  into  this  before  gloomy 
but  now  delightful  place.  I  could  verily  say  with  Solomon, 
"  Truly  the  light  is  sweet ;  and  a'pleasant  thing  it  is  to  behold 
the  sun." 

I  then  returned  and  informed  my  fellow-prisoners  of  my 
success,  which  occasioned  transports  of  joy,  raised  the  de- 
sponding, encouraged  the  faithless,  confirmed  the  doubting, 
and  put  new  vigor  in  every  breast. 

The  work  was  now  prosecuted  in  earnest  and  soon  com- 
pleted. Animated  at  the  prospect  of  gaining  our  liberty,  the 
one  who  dug  last  undesignedly  broke  through  the  ground  and 
rendered  the  hole  visible  to  any  person  who  should  happen  to 


CAPTIVITY   OF   ZADOCK    STEELE.  247 

pass  on  the  outside  of  the  pickets.     It  now  became  necessary 

LT",    ^r  'T'''''  '^'  ^^'^  *■'•«'»  *h«  observation  of 
the  guard.     To  effect  this,  Mr.  Belknap,  one  of  our  fellow- 
prisoners,  went  to  the  guard,  and,  in  a  dissembling  tone,  rep. 
resented  to  M'Daniel  the   little  prospect  we  hfd  of  bein'. 
exchanged;   that  we  had  long  been   flattered,  and  a^  bn^ 
waued   with  anxious  expectation,  for  the  approach  of  such 
a   happy  event,    but,  finding    ourselves    disappointed,   were 
forced  to  abandon  all  hopes  of  deliverance  by  exchange  that 
ta  1 ;  that  under  these  considerations,  the  prisoners  were  re- 
soh-ed  to  be  contented  during  their  confinement  on  the  island 
tin   hey  should  find  themselves  actually  set  at  liberty,  when 
all  their  hopes  would  be  SNmllowed  up  in  the  full  fruition  of 
the  object  we  had  so  long  sought.     Consequently  we  desired 
the  indulgence  of  an  opportunity  to  secure  all  our  garden 
seeds,  some  of  which,  such  as  lettuce  and  mustard,  were  then 
ripe  and  fit  to  harvest,  that  we  might  be  enabled  to  supply 
ourselves  with  the  like  articles  the  ensuing  year,  should  it  be 
our  unhappy  case  to  remain  on  the  island  another  season. 

Pleased  with  the  idea  that  the  prisoners  were  resolved  to 
be  submissive  to  his  requirements,  he  readily  ordered  one  of 
the  guard  to  go  and  attend  us  while  we  gathered  our  lettuce 
and  mustard,  whose  duty  it  was  to  see  that  no  one  absconded. 
Having  cut  and  tied  up  in  small  bundles  these  vegetables,  we 
proceeded  to  hang  them  up  so  as  to  fill  the  space  between  the 
pickets,  and  also  place  them  over  the  hole  we  had  duo-  to 
hide  our  escape  from  the  sight  of  the  sentinel,  who  walked 
over  the  hole  between  the  pickets  and  the  barracks  in  which 
we  were  stationed.  This  we  accomplished  while  our  unsus- 
pecting attendant  was  lounging  about  at  a  distance  from  us. 

Here  we  beheld  an  example  of  selfishness,  discontentment, 
fear,  and  deception,  actually  assuming  the  appearance  of  hon- 
esty, contentment,  and  submission. 

Knowing  that  we  must  separate  ourselves  into  small  com- 
panies and  take  different  rafts^  in  orfi^r  <«  r-^-J . 

i  -ji.il — tuis,  ill  vjiU'ui  i\j  Fciiuci  uUi"  passage 


248 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


down  the  rapids  more  safe,  we  now  made  choice  of  our  asso- 
ciates to  pass  the  dangerous  scene  before  us.  I  associated 
myself  with  William  Clark,  of  Virginia,  John  Sprague,  of 
Ballston,  New  York,  and  Simeon  Belknap,  of  Randolph,  Ver- 
mont. We  had  prepared  some  food  for  our  sustenance  on 
the  way  by  taking  a  quantity  of  flour  and  mixing  it  with 
melted  butter,  which  we  put  into  a  small  bag  made  for  the 
purpose.  We  also  had  a  little  salt  pork  and  bread,  together 
v/ith  some  parched  corn  and  black  pepper. 

Those  of  us  who  had  been  engaged  in  digging  had  pre- 
viously furnished  ourselves  with  ropes,  by  cutting  our  blank- 
ets into  strings  and  twisting  them  together;  while  those  who 
had  believed  our  attempt  to  be  vain  and  foolish  had  neither 
provided  themselves  with  provisions,  ropes,  or  materials  for  a 
raft,  and  were,  therefore,  unable  to  improve  the  opportunity 
which  now  presented  to  effect  their  escape. 

But  they  could  not  forbear  collecting  in  small  companies 
and  whispering  together  to  devise  plans  for  escape,  which 
raised  suspicions  in  the  minds  of  the  guard  that  the  prisoners 
were  entering  into  some  plot  either  to  make  their  escape  or 
to  raise  a  mutiny  in  the  camp.  Under  these  apprehensions, 
which  took  rise  from  no  other  source  but  from  the  conduct 
of  those  who  had  been  made  privy  to  our  undertaking,  and 
would  neither  assist  us  in  the  work  nor  prepare  themselves  to 
make  their  escape,  M'Daniel  ordered  that,  "  if  any  prisoner 
should  be  found  attempting  to  make  his  escape  or  be  guilty 
of  any  misconduct  that  night,  he  should  not  be  spared  alive." 

We  commenced  digging  on  the  24th  of  August,  1782  ;  and 
having  dug  a  passage  under  ground  the  distance  of  twenty-two 
feet  and  a  half  with  no  other  tool  but  a  jackknife,  on  the  night 
of  the  10th  of  September  following,  after  waiting  till  nine 
o'clock,  when  the  roll  was  called  and  all  was  still,  we  tied  our 
ropes  to  our  packs  and  crawled  out,  drawing  our  packs  after 
us.  I  was  preceded  by  six  of  my  felloW-prisoners,  who,  after 
crawling  through  the  hole,  which  was  nearly  half  filled  with 


^ 


CAPTIVIXr    OF   ZADOCK   STEELE. 


249 


mud,  made  a  path  in  the  grasa,  as  they  crawled  down  the 
banks  of  the  river,  which  resembled  that  of  a  log  having  been 
drawn  through  the  mud. 

The  moon  shone  bright.  The  sentinel  was  walking  directly 
across  the  hole  J  use  as  I  was  about  to  crawl  out,  when  he 
cried  out,  "  All's  well ! "  Thought  I,  «  Be  it  so ;  continue  the 
cry,  if  you  please."  My  head  at  this  time  was  not  more  than 
a  yard  from  his  feet.  I  crawled  on,  and  was  foUowed  by 
about  twenty  more,  who  were  our  fellow-laborers. 

As  we  had  been  allowed  to  go  out  of  our  enclosure  in  the 
daytime  to  hoe  our  corn  and  garden  roots  and  get  our  wood 
attended  by  one  of  the  guard,  we  had  improved  the  opportu' 
nity,  and  selected  some  logs  for  a  raft  to  which  we  could  'ro 
without  difficulty.  Clark,  Belknap,  Sprague,  and  myself  now 
separated  ourselves  from  the  rest  of  the  prisoners  and  re- 
mained  together,  sharing  equally  in  all  the  sufferings  throu-h 
which  we  were  called  to  pass.  "^ 

We  took  a  large  scalping  knife  with  us  and  a  pocket  com- 
pass, together  with  a  tinder  box  and  fireworks.  We  rolled  a 
large  log  into  the  river  on  the  upper  part  of  the  north  side 
of  the  island,  on  each  side  of  which  we  placed  another;  then, 
putting  sticks  across  both  ends  of  them,  underneath  and  on 
the  upper  side,  opposite  each  other,  we  tied  all  of  them  to- 
gether with  our  blanket  ropes,  and  fastening  our  packs  there- 
on, which  contained  our  provision,  &c.,  we  then  sat  one  on 
aach  corner  and  set  sail  down  the  rapids. 

Death  in  its  most  frightful  form  now  seemed  to  threaten 
us,  and  the  foaming  billows  pointed  us  to  a  watery  grave. 
Guided  only  by  the  current,  sometimes  floating  over  rocks,' 
sometimes  buried  in  the  water,  with  little  hope  of  again  being 
carried  out  alive,  we  passed  down  the  raging  stream  with 
the  greatest  rapidity  imaginable,  clinging  to  our  logs  respec- 
tively, sensible  that,  under  the  guidance  of  divine  Providence, 
our  only  ground  of  hope  rested  in  our  adhesion  to  the  raft. 
We  passed  down  the  river  about  nine  miles,  when  we  wex© 


It 


260 


INDIAN    NAKKAT1VE8. 


I 


enabled  to  reach  shore.  Wo  handed  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river  about  two  hours  before  day,  with  not  a  dry  thread  in  our 
clothes,  chilled  with  4he  cold  and  trembling  with  fear.  Our 
bread  had  all  washed  to  a  jelly  and  been  rendered  wholly  unfit 
to  eat.  None  of  our  provision  remained  fit  to  carry  with  ua 
except  a  little  parched  corn,  which  was  in  a  small,  wooden 
bottle,  some  salt  pork,  and  our  buttered  flour,  which  we  found 
to  be  water[)roof.  Our  compass  was  also  rendered  useless ; 
which  was  indeed  a  great  misfortune  to  us,  as  the  want  of  it 
protracted  our  journey  through  the  woods  many  days.  We 
marched  up  the  river  till  daybreak,  when  we  discovered  that 
we  were  near  the  fort  opposite  the  island.  We  then  turned 
north  into  the  woods,  which  led  us  into  a  swamp,  where  we 
encamped  under  some  old  tree  tops  that  had  fallen  together, 
about  one  mile  from  the  fort,  which  formed  no  shelter  from 
rain,  but  merely  hid  us  from  our  expected  pursuers.  We 
plainly  heard  the  report  of  the  alarm  guns  on  the  morning  of 
the  11th  of  September,  which  announced  to  us  the  discovery 
of  what  had  cost  us  great  pains,  and  evinced,  to  all  who 
should  behold  the  place,  our  love  of  liberty  and  resolution  to 
obtain  it. 

We  remained  under  these  tree  tops  three  days  and  two 
nights  without  going  ten  rods  from  the  place,  having  nothing 
to  eat  but  salt  pork,  parched  corn,  and  our  buttered  flour, 
together  with  a  few  kernels  of  black  pepper ;  for  the  want  of 
which  last  I  think  we  must  have  perished,  as  it  rained  with  a 
mixture  of  snow  every  day  and  night  sufficiently  to  keep  us 
completely  wet  all  the  time. 

Having  been  so  harshly  treated  by  the  British,  and  know- 
ing that  "  confidence  in  an  unfaithful  man  in  time  of  trouble 
is  like  a  broken  tooth  and  a  foot  out  of  joint,"  we  resolved  to 
make  ourselves  known  to  no  one ;  and  like  the  Ishmaehtes 
of  old,  while  we  had  reason  to  suppose  that  every  man's  hand 
was  against  us,  we  were  determined  to  put  our  own  hands 
against  every  man  who  should  come  in  our  way. 


(.Al'TlVITY    OF   ZAbOCK    STliLLi: 


251 


Destitute  of  food  autflcient  to  s^u^Ay  us  throu^^h  the  long 
woods  we  were  to  pass  to  reach  our  hon.es,  we  were  deter- 
mined to  replenish  our  stores  before  we  crossed  the  Kiver  St. 
Lawrence,  as  there  were  but  few  settlements  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river  in  that  i)art  of  the  country.  We  were,  there- 
fore, under  the  necessity  of  staying  about  there  till  they  had 
done  searching  for  us. 

On  the  night  of  the  third  day  after  our  escape  we  ventured 
to  take  up  our  march,  and  travelled  till  we  came  to  a  streira 
which  we  supposed  emptied  into  the  River  St.  Lawrence  at 
the  fort;  but  we  afterwards  found  it  to  be  only  a  branch  of 
that  stream.     I  waded  into  it,  and  found  it  was  so  deep  that 
we  could  not  ford  it.     I  therefore  returned,  and  we  encamped 
for  the  night.     Our  sufferings  this  night  were  almost  insup- 
portable ;  as  it  was  a  cold,  frosty  night,  and  we  were  wholly 
exposed,  having  nothing  about  us  except  what  was  completely 
wet,  without  a  shelter,  and  destitute  of  fire. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th,  benumbed  and  chilled  with 
the  cold,  we  found  a  place  where  we  forded  the  stream,  and 
travelled  till  we  came  to  another ;  and  by  mistaking  the  former, 
we  supposed  this  to  empty  itself  into  the  river  above  the  fort. 
We  followed  the  current  of  this  stream  till  about  dark,  when 
we  came  in  sight  of  a  settlement.  After  waiting  till  about 
nine  o'clock  at  night  we  ventured  to  approach  a  little  nearer, 
when  to  our  utter  astonishment  we  heard  the  drum  beat, 
which  gave  us  assurance  that  we  were  near  the  fort.  Find- 
ing ourselves  so  near,  we  concluded  to  cross  the  stream  at  the 
nearest  fording-place.  In  passing  off  we  went  through  the 
commanding  officer's  garden ;  and  I  pulled  up  a  hill  of  hia 
potatoes  and  curried  them  along  with  me. 

We  then  went  into  the  road  and  followed  up  the  River  St. 
Lawrence  about  four  miles.  We  had  not  proceeded  far,  how- 
ever, before  we  came  to  a  boat  lying  at  anchor  in  the  river, 
near  the  shore.  I  waded  in  towtirus  it  till  I  heard  men  in  it 
snoring  in  their  sleep,  when  I  quickly  made  my  retreat.     We 


:;52 


INMAN    NAUltATIVi:?. 


then  went  on  till  we  came  to  the  house  of  a  Frenchman,  as 
Wte  supposed  by  his  speech,  who,  just  as  we  came  up,  opened 
the  door  and  hailed  us.  Turning  into  his  lot,  we  went  to  his 
barn  and  endeavored  to  find  some  ereature  to  kill.  "We  found 
one  cow.  As  we  were  approaching  towards  her,  two  large 
dogs  came  at  us  with  great  rage,  and,  barking  most  furiously, 
n[)peared  to  be  determined  to  bite  us.  The  old  Frenchman 
a«^ain  came  to  the  door  and  hailed  us.  Fearing  that  soldiers 
might  be  quartered  there,  we  retreated  as  fast  as  we  could, 
keeping  an  eye  upon  the  dogs,  and  swinging  our  staves  at 
them  to  keep  them  from  biting  us,  while  the  old  Frenchman 
was  trying  to  set  them  on.  The  ground  was  descending  as 
we  retreated;  and  while  we  were  all  .moving  together  very 
fast,  having  our  eyes  partially  turned  upon  the  dogs,  we  ran 
against  a  fence,  slightly  laid  up,  and  threw  down  many 
lengths,  which  made  such  a  rattling  thai  it  terrified  the  dogs 
and  immediately  put  them  upon  their  retreat,  as  much  af- 
frighted as  they  had  been  outrageous. 

Trembling  for  our  safety,  we  kept  in  the  fields  back  of  the 
street ;  while  the  dogs  continued  their  barking  as  if  determined 
to  arouse  our  enemies  from  their  slumbers  and  cause  us  to  be 
taken.  They  succeeded,  at  least,  in  exciting  all  the  dogs  in 
the  neighborhood  to  engage  in  the  general  alarm,  and  seemed 
anxious  to  maintain  a  constant  echo  in  the  surrounding  atmos- 
phere. They  were  busily  employed  at  every  house,  and 
sometimes  in  great  earnest,  as  we  passed  along  the  distance 
of  several  miles. 

At  length  we  came  to  a  number  of  cattle  in  a  field  not  far 
from  the  road,  among  which  we  found  a  two-year-old  heifer, 
very  tame  and  in  good  flesh. 

We  had  long  been  lurking  about,  waiting  for  the  agitation 
of  the  public  mind -to  abate,  that  we  might  have  opportunity 
to  obtain  some  provision  before  we  entered  into  the  wide  wil- 
derness through  which  we  were  expecting  to  pass  ;  and  as 
the  favored  moment  had  now  arrived,  we  agreed  that  Belknap 


CAPTIVlTf   OF   aADOCK   STEELE. 


fffa 


Bhould  go  m  search  of  a  boat  to  convey  us  over  the  Lake  Su 
1  ranci«  near  which  we  found  the  cattle  ;  that  Sprague  should 
stand  wuh  our  scalping  knife  to  defend  against  every  foe ; 
whUe  Ckrk  and  myself  should  kill  the  heifer  and  procure  a 
quanuty  of  m^t.     By  the   help  of  a  little  salt  I  soon  sue 
ceeded  m  catching  the  heifer;  and,  taking  her  by  the  horns 
and  nose  I  instantly  flung  her  down,  when  Clark   cut  her 
throat  with  a  large  jackknife ;  and,  not  waiting  for  herto  die 
or  even  spending  time  to  skin  her,  we  took  off  a  gammon  and 
left  her  bleedmg.     Belknap  had  now  returned  and  informed 
us  that  he  had  found  a  boat,  to  which  we  immediately  resorted 
carrying  wuh  us  our  unskinned  beef,  the  booty  we  had  de- 
8.red  for  many  days,  leaving  the  owner  of  the  heifer  to  seek 
h.s  recompense  where  he  could  find  it;  willing,  however,  he 
should  share  with  us  in  his  beef  by  taking  what  we  left. 

Wev;ere  not  insensible  that,  if  he  were  a  British  subject,  we 
had  abundantly  compensated  his  loss  to  his  government  by 
our  own  starvation  ;  or,  if  he  were  a  friend  to  the  unfortunate, 
he  could  not  lament  hie  loss,  since  he  had  thus  far  contributed 
to  feed  the  hungry  without  even  knowing  what  his  right  hand 
d.d.  Nor,  indeed,  did  we  trouble  ourselves,  while  we  rumi- 
nated  upon  the  affair,  concerning  what  might  be  the  cogitations 
of  the  owner;  since  we  had  obtained  the  meat,  and  thus  an- 
swered  our  own  purpose. 

Having  entered  the  boat  with  all  our  baggage,  the  moon 
slnmng  bright,  we  set  out  upon  the  lake,  steering  for  the  south 
shore.  We  had  advanced  but  little  distance  when  a  breeze 
arose  from  the  north-west  and  drifted  us  ahead  with  great 
violence,  every  wave  dashing  the  water  into  our  boat. 

It  now  became  necessary  that  two  of  us  should  dip  the 
water  from  our  boat  with  our  hats  as  fast  as  possible,  while 
^le  othor  two  rowed  for  the  shore  with  the  greatest  exertion. 
Ihe  wind  increased.  The  boat  was  fast  filling  in  spite  of  all 
we  could  do.  Every  wave,  to  human  view,  brought  us  by 
rapid  strides  to  the  arms  of  death  and  presented  to  us  a 

22 


M 


254 


INDIAN    NARIIATIVES. 


watery  grave.  But,  through  the  wonderful  goodness  of  the 
great  Preserver  of  men,  we  succeeded  in  landing  just  as  our 
boat  had  filled  with  water.  Having  fastened  it  to  the  shore 
we  went  into  the  woods,  struck  up  a  fire,  skinned  our  beef 
and  cut  it  into  thin  slices,  which  we  partially  roasted  on  sticks 
by  the  fire,  and  then  lay  down  to  sleep.  This  was  the  first 
time  we  had  been  to  any  fire  since  we  left  Prison  Island.  We 
had  lain  secreted  in  bushes  and  old  tree  tops ;  wandered  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  exposed  to  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather ;  forded  streams  of  water  up  to  our  necks,  constantly 
and  completely  wet ;  hungry,  and  chilled  with  cold ;  filled 
with  fear  and  anxiety  for  our  safety  during  the  space  of  four 
days  and  five  nights,  including  the  night  in  which  we  made 
our  escape. 

Destruction  and  misery  often  appeared  in  our  way.  Death 
frequently  stared  us  in  the  face,  threatening  to  make  us  his 
prey,  but  seemed  to  be  held  from  falling  upon  us  by  the  finger 
of  God. 

On  the  morning  of  the  loth  of  September,  (the  fifth  day 
after  we  escaped,)  supposing  we  had  landed  upon  an  island, 
we  began  to  seek  how  we  should  get  off  without  being  discov- 
ered by  the  inhabitants  on  the  northern  shores  of  the  lake  or 
by  those  who  might  happen  to  be  upon  the  waters.  Happily 
we  found,  by  travelling  into  the  woods,  that  we  were  upon  a 
peninsula,  joined  to  the  main  land  by  an  isthmus  not  more  than 
eight  or  ten  feet  wide.  This  was  a  circumstance  greatly  in 
our  favor,  as  we  should  otherwise  have  been  under  the  neces- 
sity of  exposing  ourselves  to  the  view  of  our  enemies,  or 
waiting  for  the  night  to  cover  our  escape. 

We  now  set  out,  directing  our  course  nearly  south-east,  for 
the  American  fort  at  Pittsford,  a  town  situated  on  Otter 
Creek,  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  of  Vermont. 

Our  companion,  Mr.  Clark,  had  been  much  accustomed  to 
travelling  in  the  woods,  having  been  engaged  in  the  business 
of  surveying  in  the  western  part  of  the  United  States  at  the 


"Uli 


CAPTIVITY   OP   ZADOCK   STEELE. 


255 


time  he  was  taken  by  the  Indians.  We  therefore  chose  him 
to  be  our  leader  through  the  wilderness  and  our  pilot  to  a 
more  favored  country. 

We  travelled  all  the  first  day  over  low,  marshy  land,  tim- 
bered  with  cedar,  but  were  unable  to  find  any  water  to  drink 
either  m  running  brooks  or  by  digging ;  for  the  want  of  which 
we  suffered  much,  being  thirsty  as  well  as  hungry,  and  greatly 
fatigued.     Wishing  to  escape  the  vigilance  of  our  expected 
pursuers,  we  travelled  with  great  speed,  which,  together  with 
our  living  on  flesh  alone,  doubtless  occasioned  a  far  greater 
degree  of  thirst  than  we  should  have  fel    had  we  been  sup- 
P  led  with  bread.     The  next  day  we  found  water  in  great 
plenty.     We  crossed  many  streams  of  considerable  size  ;  some 
by  fording,  although  of  such  depth  as  to  reach  to  our  shoulders  • 
others  we  crossed  by  making  a  small  raft  sufficient  to  bear  one 
of  us  with  our  baggage;  while  the  other  three  stripped,  and 
hanging  by  one  hand  to  the  raft,  swam  by  her  side. 

After  wandering  in  the  wilderness  during  the  space  of  ten 
days,  —  sometimes  progressing  on  our  journey,  sometimes  loun- 
ging m  suspense,  doubting  which  course  to  take,  and  waiting 
for  the  clouds  to  be  dispelled,  that  the  sun  might  appear  to  en- 
lighten  our  path  and  guide  our  way, -we  arrived  at  Lake 
Champlain  with  our  clothes  nearly  torn  from  our  bodies,  ema- 
ciated with  hunger  and  fatigued  with  the  daily  toil   and  Ion- 
deprivation  of  the  comforts  of  civilized  life.     During  these  ten 
days  we  saw  no  other  human  being,  nor  heard  his  voice,  be- 
held  his  footsteps,  or  the  works  of  his  hand.     We  lived  almost 
wholly  on  flesh,  like  the  carnivorous  race,  and,  like  them,  re- 
posed upon  the  ground,  equally  fearing  the  face  of  man,  sus- 
picious of  his  design,  and  dreading  his  approach  as  we  did  the 
instrument  of  death. 

While  we  one  day  lay  encamped  by  the  fire,  waiting  for  the 
appearance  of  the  sun,  we  were  aroused  from  our  sleep  by  the 
supposed  report  of  a  musket.  Ignorant  of  the  source  whence 
it  came,  and  fearing  to  make  immediate  flight  lest  we  should 


256 


INDIAN  NAUR  ATI  VE8. 


flee  into  the  hands  of  our  enemieg,  we  prepared  ourselves  to 
march,  and  were  endeavoring  to  espy  the  foe,  when  a  similar 
noise,  proceeding  from  the  bursting  of  a  stone  heated  by  the 
fire,  relieved  our  minds  from  fear,  and  filled  our  bosoms  with 
joy  at  the  happy  disappointment  of  expected  danger. 

Soon  after  we  arrived  at  Lake  Champlain  we  found  a  part 
of  an  old  flat-bottomed  boat,  which  we  fitted  up,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  conveying  us  across  the  lake,  by  lashing  a  log  on 
each  side  with  bark  and  withs. 

At  about  sunset  we  went  aboard  and  set  sail  to  cross  the 
lake.  We  had  proceeded  nearly  half  way  across,  when  the 
wind  arose  against  us  and  baffled  all  our  exertions  to  proceed 
farther.  After  laboring  till  about  midnight  without  success, 
and  fearing  we  should^  be  taken  by  the  British  if  we  remained 
on  the  water  till  light,  \ye  concluded  to  row  back  to  the  shore 
we  left  and  relinquish  the  idea  of  crossing  the  lake  that 
night.  We  had  continued  upon  the  water  till  a  tempest 
arose,  and  the  wind  blew  from  various  directions,  shifting  its 
course  every  few  minutes ;  and  our  strength  had  become  almost 
exhausted,  being  faint  for  want  of  food,  insomuch  that  we 
could  hardly  move.  We  labored  with  diligence  and  with  all 
our  might  till  daybreak,  having  nothing  to  use  for  oars  ex- 
cept such  sticks  as  we  found  in  the  woods  and  prepared  for 
the  purpose  with  a  jackknife.  We  were  now  enabled  to  reach 
the  same  shore  from  which  we  started,  though  several  miles 
farther  north.  Our  clothes  were  completely  wet,  and  our 
strength  so  far  gone  that  neither  of  us  could  scarcely  go. 

In  this  wretched  state,  stupefied  and  chilled  with  the  cold, 
so  faint  and  tired  that  we  could  hardly  move,  we  crept  a  few 
rods  into  the  woods,  built  a  fire,  and  laid  down  upon  the  ground. 

I  never  suffered  so  much  fatigue,  in  the  same  space  of  time 
in  my  life,  as  I  did  this  night ;  nor  would  I  have  believed  I 
could  endure  as  much,  with  so  little  strength,  without  perish- 
ing. Language  is  too  feeble  to  express,  nor  can  imagination 
oonceive,  the  sufferings  we  underwent. 


CAPTIVITY   OF   ZADOCK   STEELE. 


267 


We  had  but  little  provision  left,  and  were  compelled  to  cur- 
tail our  former  allowance,  so  that  we  should  be  enabled  to 
subsist  and  continue  our  journey  till  we  could  reach  the 
desired  country. 

Having  rested  from  the  wearisome  and  fruitless  labors  of 
the  night  till  nearly  sunset  the  next  day,  we  resolved  to  travel 
on  the  west  side  of  the  lake  till  we  should  come  to  a  narrow 
place  where  we  could  well  hope  for  success  in  an  attempt  to 
cross.  We  resumed  our  march  and  travelled  a  few  miles  that 
night,  then  camped  down  and  waited  for  the  morning. 

The  next  day  we  came  to  the  River  Saranac,  which  empties 
mto  Lake  Champlain  at  a  place  now  called  Plattsburg,  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  We  heard  the  noise  of  the  British 
engaged  in  chopping  a  few  rods  up  the  river,  while  we 
crossed  it  between  them  and  the  lake,  not  far  from  its 
mouth. 

After  we  crossed  the  river  we  travelled  a  small  distance 
and  encamped  for  the  night  in  a  valley  which  was  in  the 
form  of  a  basin.     We  followed  up  the  lake  upon  the  western 
shore;  crossed  Duck  Creek,  River-au-Sable,  Salmon  River, 
and  Gilliland's  Creek;  when  we  came  to  a  place  called  Split 
Rock,  where  the  lake  is  narrow,  which  afforded  us  a  prospect 
of  succeeding  if  we  attempted  to  cross.     We  then  went  to 
work  to  build  a  raft,  and  while  engaged,  a  little  before  sunset, 
espied  a  British  armed  vessel  making  towards  us  from  the 
south.     We  went  into  the  bushes  and  lay  secreted  from  their 
view,  though  they  were  so  visible  to  us  that  we  could  see 
their  red  coats,  and  even  count  the  buttons  upon  them,  while 
they  sailed  around  at  a  small  distance  from  us,  apparently  for 
amusement,  and  then  returned  again  to  the  south,  out  of  our 
sight,  without  discovering  us. 

We  then  went  to  work,  completed  our  raft  at  dark,  set  sail 
across  the  lake,  and  safely  landed  in  a  few  hours  at  a  place 
now  called  Charlotte,  in  the  State  of  Vermont.     We  were 
however,  ignorant  at  that  lime  both  of  the  name  of  the  ,>lace' 
22* 


258 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


and  of  its  local  situalton.  Being  yet  in  a  strange  wilderness, 
•we  knew  not  which  way  to  direct  our  course  to  reach  inhab- 
itants. Indeed,  all  that  prompted  us  to  go  forward  was  the 
information  we  had  received  that  there  were  settlements  near 
some  part  of  this  lake.  But  we  were  wholly  ignorant  what 
way  to  take  that  should  enable  us  to  find  them.  Supposing 
ourselves  to  be  between  the  mouth  of  Onion  River  tnd  Otter 
Creek,  we  concluded  to  steer  in  a  Routh-east  direction,  which 
we  supposed  would  bring  us  to  Pittsford  Fort.  We  travelled 
into  the  woods  a  few  rods  and  'ay  down  for  the  night.  In  the 
morning  we  resumed  our  march,  and  had  not  gone  far  before 
we  came  to  an  old  log  house,  which  had  long  been  abandoned, 
and,  by  the  long  continuance  of  the  war,  had  become  greatly 
decayed. 

We  however  found  a  few  beans,  which  had  probably  been 
there  a  number  of  years,  and  were  covered  with  mould.  As 
our  provision  was  mostly  gone  and  we  were  extremely  hun- 
gry, we  took  and  parched  them,  as  we  would  corn,  by  the  fire, 
which  gave  some  relish  to  the  twigs,  roots,  and  berries  that 
had  already,  for  some  days,  composed  our  principal  food. 

Our  clothes  were  almost  torn  from  our  mangled  bodies  by 
the  bushes,  logs,  and  trees ;  and  the  blood  that  gushed  from 
our  naked  and  wornout  feet  witnessed,  in  every  track  we 
made,  the  pains  we  suffered. 

Parts  of  our  stockings  still  remained  about  our  feet ;  and, 
having  a  needle  (but  no  thread)  with  us,  we  ravelled  off  the 
tops  of  them  and  sewed  our  tattered  rags  together  as  much  as 
possible,  to  defend  our  bodies  from  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather. 

Our  du..y  allowance  of  the  food  we  brooght  with  u?  from 
Priijon  Island  was  now  reduced  to  about  an  inch  square  of 
salt  pork  and  as  much  of  our  buttered  flour  as  we  could  twice 
put  upon  the  point  of  a  large  jackknife.  We  had  eaten  all 
our  beef  and  parched  corn. 

We  dug  roots  of  various  kinds  and  ate  them,  together  with 


CAPTIVITY    OF   ZADOCK    STKKLK. 


259 


we 


the 


birch  and  other  twigs.     Spikenard  roots,  which  we  roasted  by 
the  fire,  comprised  the  greatest  part  of  our  subsistence.     We 
found  several  small  frogs,  which  v.e  killed  and  ate  with  great 
dehght      But  we  could  find  only  a  few  of  them,  though  we 
searched  dd.gently.     Their  meat  tasted  exceedingly  sweet  and 
Uelicious.     We  also  found  means  to  catch  several  small  fish 
trom  a  httle  rivulet  which  we  crossed;  but  could  not  obtain 
more  than  two  or  three,  although  we  spent  much  time  and 
used  every  exertion  in  our  power. 

Some  time  after  we  had  dressed  our  fish  and  had  advanced 
considerable  distance,  we  espied  a  bear  upon  a  tree  a  few  rods 
ahead  of  us.  We  hastened  to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  in  view  of 
kilhng  her,  as  she  descended,  by  stabbing  her  with  our  larg« 
scalpmg  knife.  But,  on  examination,  we  found  the  knife  was 
lett  at  the  place  of  dressing  the  fish,  which  frustrated  our  plan 
and  blighted  our  hopes  of  obtaining  any  meat. 

Disappointment  was  now  added  to  hunger  and  distress,  and 
our  faint  and  wearied  bodies  were  hardly  able  to  support  the 
dreadful  weight  of  soitow  which  hung  over  our  minds. 

We  however  continued  to  keep  a  south-east  course  till  we 
reached  the  top  of  the  mountains  lying  between  Onion  River 
and  Otter  Creek,  when,  looking  back,  we  could  see  the  lake 
in  fair  view.  Being  so  feint  for  want  of  food  that  we  could 
hardly  step,  and  seeing  no  prospect  of  obtaining  any,  it 
seemed  as  if  death  must  be  our  inevitable  fate.  We  had 
travelled  seven  or  eigrit  days,  and  had  subsisted  the  whole 
time  mostly  upon  the  spontaneous  productions  of  the  country. 
The  season  for  berries  was  nearly  gone,  though  we  were  able 
to  find  some. 

Our  natures  seemed  to  waste  away  and  leave  nothina.  but 
death  to  stare  us  in  the  face.  Winter  was  fast  approadiinc., 
^hile  we  were  almost  naked,  destitute,  and  forlorn.  O  tC 
wretched  condition  of  those  whose  lot  it  is  to  be  cast  into  the 
wilderness  and  left  to  wander  upon  the  dark  mountains  of 
despair!    I  could  feelingly  atlopt  the  language  of  Job,  and 


260 


INDIAN   NAKRATlVliS. 


Bay,  "  Terrors  are  turned  upon  me :  they  pursue  my  soul  as 
the  wind ;  and  ray  welfare  passeth  away  as  a  cloud.  "When 
I  looked  for  good,  then  evil  came  unto  me;  and  when  I 
waited  for  light,  there  came  darkness.  I  am  a  brother  to 
dragons  and  a  companion  to  owls;  for  I  have  eaten  ashes 
like  bread  and  mingled  my  drink  with  weeping." 

Had  we  seen  any  prospect  of  soon  finding  the  house  of  a 
friend,  or  of  obtaining  provision  in  any  other  way  before  we 
should  arrive  among  inhabitants,  we  could  not  have  denied 
ourselves  at  once  to  eat  the  little  provision  we  had  in  our 
packs  whi?e  we  suffered  so  much  by  hunger  on  our  way. 

The  barren  mountains  and  rocky  cliffs  of  Bristol,  Ripton, 
and  Hancock,  the  dismal  plain  of  Chataugua,  and  the  waters 
of  Champlain  Witnessed  the  cries  of  our  sufferings;  while  our 
steps  traced  in  blood  the  distress  we  endured. 

We  wandered  from  mountain  to  mountain  and  from  valley 
to  valley,  keeping  at  a  distance  from  the  lake,  lest  we  should 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  British,  who  had  command  of  the 
lake  at  that  time.  Sorrow,  hunger,  and  bitterness  of  soul 
were  our  constant  attendants  through  the  day ;  and  the  ap- 
proach of  the  night  only  increased  our  miseries  and  multi- 
plied our  sighs  and  groanings. 

Though  we  slept,  it  was  for  trouble ;  and  if  we  continued  to 
roam  the  wilderness  we  found  no  comfort,  and  our  strength 
failed.  If  we  slumbered,  it  was  upon  the  brink  of  the  grave, 
and  it  would  not  feed  us.  While  our  hunger  increased,  our 
hopes  of  relief  grew  dim. 

Seeing  no  prospect  of  ever  finding  the  habitations  of  friends, 
our  companions,  Clark  and  Sprague,  like  the  lepers  of  old, 
"■  said  one  to  another,  Why  sit  we  here  until  we  die?  "  If  we 
say  we  will  pursue  our  journey,  "  we  shall  die ;  and  if  we  sit 
still  here,  we  die  also."  They  therefore  resolved  to  return  to« 
the  lake  if  they  could  get  there,  and  deliver  theraselves  up 
into  the  hands  of  the  British. 

They  were  boii*  possessed  of  true  coura:.;e,  and  a  noble, 


I 


CAl.TITITl'  or  KADOOK   STEELE.  Jgl 

try  east  of  Lake  Champhin,  and  conseqaently  had  lesa  to  en 
coumge  them  tban  Bcltnap  and  myself     Thly  were  CwMI 

them,  ,f  we  conid  ever  reach  inhabitant..     But  to  -o  forward 

or  hree  day,-  travel :  as  we  are  ™  wealt  we  can  hardlv  «, 
and  Bt  11  (rrowini  weakpr  ••    Tl,.„  .         .  ■  "arnjy  go, 

to  h.  eJ^  f  "ig  weaker.       rhey  requested  us  to  leave  them 

BuUheT  /°7'i  ^T  "'  ■■'  P'-^*"™  exasperated  foe. 
t!l  '"■«'"  f^'^S^  "f  •™n.an  sensibility  forbade  „s  ,o  leave 
tbem  ,  and  Belknap  and  n,y..i.  persuaded  them  to  persevere 
and  remam  w.,h  us  to  the  end  by  dealing  out  to  them  a^ 

the  lead  and  be  the.r  pdot ;  to  which  I  consented. 

It  being  nearly  night,  we  encamped  till  moraine,  when  we 
concluded  to  change  our  course  and  steer  nearly  I  ,o„,h 
south-westerly  direction  .     We  travelled  „„  modeZly   ^^ 
of  the  event,  till  about  „,»n,  when,  being  some  ^IflZZ 
of  my  compamons,  I  was  so  fortunate  Z  to  come  to  Troad 
Of  tins  I  notified  my  languishing  companions,  famishing  with 
^  nger  and  groaning  under  the  weigh,  of  the.'r  wretchedn™ 
winch  occasioned  transports  of  joy,  gladdened  their  hearts 
and  mv,gorated  their  bodies,  yea,  it  "shed  happiness  a™u"d 
us  and  ba„,shed  misery  befon,  us."     For  we  could  say  wUh 
Dav.d,  that  we  had  "  wanuered  in  the  wilderness,  in  ZZ^ 
way,  and  found  no  city  to  dwell  in.     Hungry  and  thirsry  tr 
souls  famted  within  us.     Then  we  cried  unto  the  wi  in 

1  abiutiln"     ''  ""  "='"  ™^'  "«"  "^  '»'^'"  «°  '<-  »  «'y  Of 

tratlirr*  !,'*  *"  '"^•*'"  "'  ^"  «"«"g  inhabitants,  we 
travelled  on  the  road  with  joy  and  delight.    Our  hope,  of 

agau>  seemg  our  friends  became  brightened,  and  our  e^c^ 
t^ons  greatly  strengthened  our  weak  and  trembling  limbs  We 
soon  came  '■"  -:~u* -^  -  -    ^-^  <  -  e  "mua.     Yve 


sight  of  an  old  horse,  and  an  oH 


mara   tiri^K 


>  V        fT    11X_1        £J 


262 


INDIAN  NARRATIVES. 


sucking  colt  by  her  side.  As  they  were  in  a  valley  some  dis- 
tance  from  the  road,  we  concluded  not  to  go  after  them,  hop- 
ing soon  to  find  inhabitants,  where  we  should  be  enabled  also 
to  find  friends,  who  would  lend  the  hand  of  charity.  We 
therefore  travelled  on,  and  soon  came  to  a  stream,  but  could  not 
determine  whether  it  was  Otter  Creek  or  only  a  branch  of  it. 
If  it  were  a  branch,  we  knew  we  ought  to  follow  the  current 
till  we  came  to  the  creek.  But  to  follow  the  current  of  the 
creek  itself  would  lead  us  directly  to  the  lake,  where  we 
should  be  exposed  to  the  British. 

We  however  thought  it  most  prudent  to  follow  down  the 
stream,  and  soon  came  to  its  mouth,  and  still  were  left  in 
doubt  whether  the  stream  into  which  the  first  we  discovered 
emptied  itself  was  Otter  Creek  or  some  other  branch. 

As  it  began  to  draw  near  sunset,  and  seeing  no  prospect  of 
finding  inhabitants  that  night,  we  resolved  to  return  to  the 
place  where  we  came  to  the  first  stream,  having  there  found 
the  walls  of  an  old  log  house.  Clark  and  myself  went  and 
procured  the  horses  and  colt;  while  Belknap  and  Sprague 
struck  up  a  fire  and  built  a  camp. 

Having  returned  with  the  horses  and  confined  them  in  the 
old  log  house,  we  killed  and  dressed  the  colt  and  roasted  some 
of  the  meat  upon  sticks  by  the  fire  and  ate  it ;  and  surely  "  it 
was  pleasant  to  ths  taste."  Indeed,  I  never  ate  any  meat  of 
so  delicious  a  flavor,  although  without  bread,  salt,*  or  sauce 
of  any  kind. 

The  next  morning  we  startp-l  with  our  old  horse  and  colt- 
less  mare,  and  travelled  till  after  the  middle  of  the  day,  when 
we  came  to  the  place  we  passed  about  noon  the  day  preceding. 
We  were  confident  it  was  the  same  place,  by  finding  some 
spikenard  roots  which  we  had  thrown  away  soon  after  we 
found  the  road. 


•  We  brought  a  small  quantity  of  salt  from  Prison  Island,  but  lost 
the  principal  part  of  it  in  passing  down  the  rapids.  The  remainder 
we  gave  to  the  heifer  we  kUled,  and  took  her  gammon  in  exchange. 


CAPTlvlir  01-  iiUOOK   STEBLE.  268 

haTd 'or  totl  """"""'"S  ""'  "•'"''"  ">  '""'  to  the  right 
hand  or  to  the  left,  having  obtained  a  new  supply  of  meat 

bee:tiIlB  f  '^r   '""'''  '^'^^'"^"^'^  -The      „  ^  d' 

there  7,1     ^  T  "^  '"  '"""'"  """y''  ^<'  '='>"<"'"ied  to  tarry 
there  through  the  day  and  encamp  for  the  night  honin/th. 

the  bet  er  to  determme  what  course  to  take. 

Wlule  we  were  patroIUng  about  the  fields,  which  appeared 
to  have  been  unoccupied  and  but  partially  Cultivated  du„W 
thelong  war,  we  found  a  large  yard  of  ,u™ips.  °« 

We  then  prepared  our  camp,  built  a  fire,  and,  havin.  pro- 

dunng  the  night,  first  sleeping  a  little  and  then  eating  •  thus 
alternately  refreshing  ourselves  by  sleep  and  eating  7b  mea 
w,.h  roasted  turnips  till  the  approach  of  day.    L  we  Tad 

ad'nronlvT    '"  r"'"""""  ^"""'  »f  ">«  -'demoss,  and 
had  not  only  been  almost  entirely  destitute  of  bread  and  meat 
but  wholly  depnvcd  of  every  cultivated  vegetable,  we  were 
conscous  that  it  would  be  injurious,  and  even  da.  grUto 
eat  .mmed^ately  all  we  might  crave  for  the  night.     ^         ' 

Wo  therefore  chose  to  satiate  our  hunger  in  a  measure  by 
p.ecemeals,  while  we  truly  feasted  up„„%hat  kind  „f  fa™ 

to  our  wretched  condition  and  craving  appetites.  In  the 
mortjmg  he  sky  was  clear,  and  the  sun  rose,  to  every  one  of 
-,  directly  m  the  u,es.  We  now  discove^d  the  Tause  ^f 
becoming  lost ;  and,  feeling  much  refreshed  and  strengthened 
we  took  our  horses  and  directed  our  course  according Tthe 
sun,  diametrical^  against  our  own  ideas  of  the  true  ^o LVof 
compass.  We  had  not  pi-oceeded  far  when  we  came'o  Iree 
otiier  horses,  which  we  took,  leaving  the  old  mare  for  the  ben! 
eflt  of  the  owner. 

After  travelling  till  about  noon  we  came  to  a  man  chop, 
pmg  m  the  woods.  Seeing  us  all  on  horseback,  with  bark 
bndles  and  no  saddles,  having  on  coats  maae  of  Man  bta- 


264 


IKDIAN    NAUItATIVKii. 


■ 


keta,  which  were  all  \v  vags,  with  beards  an  inch  long,  and 
each  one  of  us  ..v  ;  •.  „  >.h  a  cudgel,  the  trembling  wood- 
cutter stood  in  drett'Jful  awe,  with  hia  axe  raised  above  his 
shoulder,  dreading  our  approach,  ln\i  fearing  i  try  bis  suc- 
cess in  an  attempt  to  escape ;  while  we  drew  near,  rejoicing 
that  we  had  once  more  arrived  where  we  could  behold  the 
face  of  one  whose  hand  should  not  be  igainst  us,  and  against 
whom  we  were  not  co:npellod  for  our  safety  to  put  our  own 
hands. 

We  were  not  much  surprised,  though  very  sorry,  to  find  our 
friend  so  grievously  alarmed  while  we  only  desired  hia  friend- 
ship. We  informed  him  of  our  wretched  condition,  and  be- 
sought him  to  be  our  friend,  with  tears  of  joy  and  tenderness 
trickling  down  our  emaciated  cheeks.  Finding  we  were  not 
his  enemies,  lut  the  subjects  of  his  pity  and  tender  compas- 
sion, bursting  into  tears  of  sympathy  at  the  short  relation  we 
gave  him  of  our  sufferings,  he  invited  us  to  go  with  him  and 
he  would  lead  us  to  Pittsford  Fort,  which  was  only  about  one 
mile  distant,  where  we  should  be  made  welcome  to  every  thing 
necessary  for  our  comfort. 

We  soon  arrived  at  the  fort.  It  was  now  about  one  o'clock 
in  tlie  afternoon.  We  were  received  with  the  greatest  marks 
of  sympathy  and  commiseration  and  treated  with  every 
respect  due  to  our  wretchedness  and  want.  And  though 
justice  demands  that  I  should  acknowledge  the  generous  dis- 
play of  philanthropic  zeal,  as  well  as  selfish  curiosity  com- 
mon on  such  occasions,  yet  I  could  not  forbear  to  notice 
with  pain  that  cold  indifference  for  the  miseries  of  others, 
commonly  observable  in  those  who  have  long  been  familiar 
with  scenes  of  wretchedness  and  woe,  which  was  manifested 
by  some,  and  especially  by  the  commander  of  the  fort,  on  our 
arrival  at  that  place. 

Not  long  after  we  arrived  at  the  fort  the  owners  of  the  horses 
came  up,  carrying  their  saddles  upon  their  backs.  They 
had  been  out  for  the  purpose  of  surveying  land,  and  had  turned 


CAPTIVITT   OF  ZAUOCK    STEELR.  265 

sufre.ngs  „„,1  |,e„,g  m,ulo  acquainted  win,  our  clcplorubl,.  condi- 
.on,  ,hcy  readily  r,,.Iied,  wi„.  seeming  eompa^ion  ..,„,,  I 

z:>:^r'^  ""^  -  ^-  ™  <•"--  -  .oV.na  :j: 

?ord  H    r  r°"  ""■   ^''  ''"^  "f  0"»''«-.  1782,  havin, 

fo.ded    r.ver.  of    w:„er   up   to  our  shoulders;    traver<i„: 

r!  „rf?    °.  """'"'",""  "'  "^■^''  "''"«  "»  >"""'"'  -y-  could 
»2f      r      r"'"''  ""  ■""''"'«  "'^'  •^"'h  our  bed  of  re- 

exmetin,  ^  '  """■'^  '""'""^'  ""''  "l""^'  "aked  ;  little 

expectmg  ever  agu.n  (o  see  tl.e  faces  of  our  friends  or  to  be 

I."M  those  habitations  whielt  witnessed  our    ovenile  tears" 
where  we  enjoyed  the  kind  embraces  of  tender  a„d  X 
■onate  mothers  and  the  paternal  car.  of  iudd^enttthet: 
expeetmg  every  day  to  see  the  appro.aeh  of  that  hou   whi' 
our  sp,r,ts  should  be  called  to  leave  our  bodies  n  a  horUnl 
wddemess  ,o  become  food  for  wild  beasts,  and  or  fr.endt! 
ament  our  absence,  ignorant  of  our  end.     After  endurTnljll 
h.,,  yea  more  than  pen  can  describe  or  lang  age  expfes 
who  can  el  ou,- joy  and  gratitude  when  we  earaelo  beho  d  ,' 
"cty  of  halutauon  "  and  the  abodes  of  plenty       mafheart 

wt  eo°u  I'^fT  '"'■  '""•""=  '"'■^'"  J»y  »'  --*  -■    vent 
Who  eould  forbear  to  speak  forth  praise  to  the  Rreat  R-e 
server  of  men  on  such  an  occasion  ?     Would  no.  eferv ^f  !" 
susceptible  of  die  least  im„,.„.  ■  "ou m  not  every  heart, 

the  A|mi»h.v  '"Passion,  acknowledge  the  hand  o' 

iiie  Almighty  ,.,  so  great  a  deliverance  > 

Instead  of  making  our  bed  upon  the  cold  ground  with  r„. 
clothes  wet  and  our  bodies  benumbed,  we  emdd  n'o^  e 
sweet  repose  by  the  fireside,  sheltered  f^^mllrandT 
rounded  wtth  friends.     Instead  of  feeding   ^Ttro^,  2a 

roots,  twigs,  and  bark,  wp  ^/^„u x....  .,     „    .       .   ft  "" 


twigs,  and  bark,  we  could  now  taste  the  fruits 


of  labor 


266 


TNDIA.N    SAlJKAMVIia. 


and  industry,  and  feast  upon  I  ho  bounties  of  Heaven.  In- 
stead of  wandering  through  a  lonely  wilderness,  with  our 
cheeks  wet  with  tears  of  sorrow,  almost  overwhelmed  with 
despair,  we  could  now  travel  through  a  country  of  civiliza- 
tion free  from  enemies,  and  receive  support  from  t'-e  hand  of 
charity. 

After  sharing  in  the  benevolence  of  many  individuals,  and 
receiving  every  tokun  of  tViendshif)  from  the  garrison  at  the 
fort,  as  they  were  expecting  soon  to  be  attacked  by  the  Brit- 
ish, we  were  advised  to  travel  on  still  farther  that  night,  that 
we  might  be  the  more  safe  from  the  grasp  of  the  enemy. 

Wo  theiefbre  proceeded  on  towards  Rutland  several  miles, 
when  we  obtained  lodgings  in  the  house  of  a  "  poor  widow," 
who  furnished  us  with  the  best  food  her  house  afforded,  of 
which  we  ate  heartily.  Having  long  been  without  bread  of 
any  kind,  and  being  now  furnished  with  a  full  supply  of  good 
wheat  bread,  it  seemed  as  if  we  should, die  with  the  effect  of 
eating  it.  It  lay  like  lead  in  our  stomachs,  and  caused  us  the 
most  agonizing  distress  for  some  hours,  while  we  rolled  upon  the 
floor  with  bitter  groanings,  although  we  had  denied  ourselves 
the  satisfaction  of  eating  the  half  of  what  our  appetites  craved. 
But  our  extreme  hunger  prevented  the  exercise  of  prudence 
and  economy  in  the  choice  of  that  kind  of  food  which  was 
best  adapted  to  our  wretched  condition.  Nor  did  we  wait 
long  lo  cci^sult  about  the  propriety  or  impropriety  of  eating 
any  thing  we  found  within  our  reach.  Our  avidity  for  food, 
however,  soon  abated,  when  we  found  no  injury  to  result  from 
eating  all  we  desired. 

We  made  our  escape  on  the  night  of  the  K)th  of  Septem- 
ber, arrived  at  Lake  Champlain  in  about  ten  days,  and  came 
to  the  fort  on  the  night  of  the  2d  of  October  following ; 
having  been  in  the  wilderness  twenty-two  days,  without  speak- 
ing to  any  other  person  except  our  own  company.*     It  is  true, 


*  When  the  «un  was  inviaible,  having  lost  our  compasa,  we  directed 
our  course  hy  the  moss  upou  trees,  which  ia  found  only  upon  the 


>*IIIP<WHMHlMP«Ht«M 


CAPTIVITT   OP   ZADOCI    STEELE. 


967 

we  Imd  soon  some  of  our  nneow^  ^f  »  a-  , 

with  terror  and  di.srnnv    S    L     "    ^^"  ^'•°'"  "^' '''^''^^ 

fiuffic  ent  to  ennhlp  „a  t  "^  voience  ot  others,  Pome  money 

Having  rlrml" '?"";" "" '"""''■>  ">  OonnecticuL 

"•■-h  preve„,ed  ourVing  far  i„  '„  Z        '"-'™"'"  ''''y '"">• 

Sj-aguc,  »ep»r„.„d  „!'„:'  T  ™'"P'""''"''  ^''"•''  ""d 
parlicipation  of  sufferhl  1  ^  "™"'"S""'-  »?  »  ">utaal 
each  other  which  wfflZ       t        ""''"■■«'  """  "«■«««""  f-r 

[-a  „a„,  .:^«rr'f„rd""r'';-.  "''''"="-'■- 

having  been  rescued  from  manv  d!'  f  "■"""  '"S"'"'"' 

-any  .roubles,  sharinre"™,?: '?«"''  and  delivered  out  of 
as  well  as  in  the  joys'resul.i  »  fr„  '^''',  P"'"''  """  ■■"»'■•»»=. 
reiuctantly  parted,  Uc  .wfeiy  tX'  t  T""'  "°  """ 
-ver  again  to  see  each  o.her  S^  we  hfuL  "'!;  ""'■"'" 
;here  "the   weary  be  at  rest.     The  e   ,be  "' "■°^''' 

together,  they  hear  not  the  voice  of  H  ''■"'"'"   '"'^ 

small  and  great  are  (here    and  M.  "'''"■''*°"'-     ^''^ 

master."  '  ^^  ""^  ««''™nt  w  free  from  hi. 

us  totiH^  "'err."::  to"tl  T'""";"^  '•"'■'^'■•■="^  »'  »"-  of 

B.-lknap  and  I  co"i  "  °,  '"'  "''  ^"'"'''  °f  ""f«'ief." 
in  Co„nec.icu.,wlererf  ""'/"'''■''  '"«''""  '»  Ellington, 
oa  'be  17.h  of  Oc   b,  '  iTsa  b'"*''     ^»  "-■-".ere 
'^«  .-a.  I  was  ta.e„  hy  tL^L^ir^  CoJ^  ^wLt» 

Of  .he  .a„,  ,..,,eh  ^^t^Z  ;Z:^:fZ^  •"'  'PP— - 


263 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


r 


can  describe  the  mutual  joy  which  was  felt  by  parents  and 
children  on  our  arrival  ?  Truly  our  fathers,  "  seeing  us  while 
yet  a  great  way  ofF,  ran  and  fell  upon  our  necks  and  kissed 
us."  Behold  how  the  affection  of  a  father. .  See  him  shed 
the  tear  of  compassion.  Hear  him  say,  "  This  my  son  was 
dead,  and  is  alive  again  ;  he  was  lost,  and  is  lound."  See 
him  '•  begin  to  be  merry ; "  nor  think  it  strange  that  the  fat- 
ted calf  3hould  be  killed. 

Behold  a  kind  father  in  tears  of  joy,  and  a  fender  step- 
mother *  kindly  embracing  the  subject  of  her  husband's  for- 
mer grief,  but  present  delight.     See  "  the  best  robe  "  cast 
around  him,  with  "  the  ring  upon  his  hand  and  the  shoes  upon 
his  feet."     See  brothers  and  sisters  surrounding  the  returned 
brother.     Hear  their  acclamations  of  joy  and  gladness,  em- 
bracing their  once  lost  but  now  living  brother.     What  heart 
would  not  melt  at  the  sight  of  such  a  joyful  scene.?     And 
■what  can  I  say  to  express  my  own  feelings  on  this  delightful 
interview  ?     Having  endured  the  hardships  of  an  Indian  cap- 
tivity and  the  pains  cf  the  prison,  the  gnawings  of  hunger, 
the  tortures  of  the  rack,  and  the  still  more  dreadful  distress 
of  twenty-two  days'  wandering  in  the  wilderness  ;  filled  with 
despair,  anxiety,  and  fear ;  almost  starved,  and  nearly  naked ; 
full  of  wounds,  and  constantly  chilled  with  the  cold  ;  imagine, 
kind  reader,  the  feelings  of  my  heart  when  I  came  to  beliold 
the  face  of  affectionate  parents  and  receive  the  tender  em- 
braces of  beloved  brothers  and  a  loving  sister.     Think  of  the 
festivities  of  that  evening,  when  I  could  again  enjoy  a  seat  in  a 
social  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintance  around  the  fireside  in 
my  father's  house. 

Vain  is  the  attempt  to  describe  my  own  feelings  on  that 
joyful  occasion.  Fruitless  indeed  must  be  all  my  endeavors 
to  express  the  mutual  congratulations  manifested  by  all  on 
my  return. 

*  My  own  mother  died  while  I  was  quite  young,  and  my  father 
had  married  again  to  a  woman  possessing  the  kindest  aflfection*  and 
the  most  endearing  love. 


i 


t 


CAPTIVITY    OF   ZADOCK    STEELE.  269 

My  long  absence  from  my  friends,  together  with  a  sense  of 

p.ese.   ed,  mcreased  our  gratitude,  and  caused  wonder  and 
a>ton,slm.ent  to  dwell  in  every  breast.     We  could  now  hoax'ly 
un.te  m  ascribing  praise  and  adoration  to  Him  who  gran  ed 
rne  protection  while  exposed  to  the  shafts  of  hatred  Ld  re- 
>enge.     I  was   treated  wUh  all  that  friendship  which  pity 
could  excue  or  sympathy  dictate,  and  saluted  by  every  p  r! 
son  I  met,  whether  old  or  young,  with  a  heai;y  welcome. 
Everyone  seemed  to  be  in  a  good  degree  consdous  o  The 
extreme  suffermgs   I  had  undergone.     In  short,  my  return 
afforded  me  an  opportunity  to  witness  a  display  of  all  the  ten- 
der  passions  of  the  soul.  F    j'  u   du  me  ten- 

Knowing  the  deplorable  wretchedness  of  those  who  had 
the  misfortune  to  become  prisoners  to  the  British,  and  conse- 
quent  y  expectmg  every  day  to  hear  of  my  death,  my  friends 

been   had    they  witnessed  the  resurrection  of  one  from  the 

The  ex'treme  hunger  and  distress  I  had  felt  were  clearly 
mamtested  to  those  who  beheld   my  emaciated  counten  u^ 
and   mangled  feet;  and  no  one  was  disposed  to  doult  t L 
^uUi  of  my  words  who   heard  me  relate    the   afiecting-ta  e 
of  my  sore  affhct.ons.     For,  "  by  reason  of  the  voice  k  my 
groanmgs,  my  bones,"  it  might  verily  be  said,  did  '^  eleave  to 
mv  .km.       I  however  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  my  deen 
-^xiety  U>  be  deliv^red  from  bondage  and  escape  from  the 
<^nemy,  n.y  ardent  wishes  to  see  my  friends,  and  my  hungry 
cravn.g  appettte,  whoHy  satisfied  in  tl,e  full  fruition  of  alfmy 
oils,      fhe  mumhcence  of  the  .venlthy  was  ofTered  for  my  r^:. 
i.ef,  and  the  poor  approached  me  with  looks  of  tenderness  and 
pity.     All  things  around  me  wore  a  propitious  smile.     From 
morning  till  night  instead  of  being  guarded  by  a  company  of 
refugees  and  tones,  or  wandering  in  a  lonesome  wilderness 
hungry  and  destitute,  I  could  now  beho.d  the  fnc.  of  friendt 
23  * 


270 


INDIAN   NARRAXIVES. 


and  at  tlie  approach  of  night  repose  my  head  upon  a  downy 
pillow,  under  the  hospitable  covert  of  my  father's  roof.  In- 
stead  of  being  made  a  companion  of  the  wretched,  I  could 
now  enjoy  the  sweet  conversation  of  a  beloved  sister  and 
atiectionate  brothers. 

Having  for  more  than  two  years  been  deprived  of  hearin.^ 
thr.  gospel  sound,  surely  "  I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me" 
i^tt  us  go  mto  the  house  of  the  Lord."  For  unto  God  I  could 
saj,  »  Thou  art  my  hiding-place  ;  thou  shalt  preserve  me  from 
trouble  ;  thou  shalt  compass  me  about  with  songs  of  deliver- 
ance I  will  be  glad  and  iejoice  in  thy  name  ;  for  thou  hast 
considered  my  trouble  ;  thou  ha.st  known  my  soul  in  adversity  " 
This  I  hoped  would  be  the  language  of  every  one  who  made 
their  escape  with  me.  For  myself,  I  trust  it  was  the  sincere 
language  of  my  heart. 

Notwithstanding  the  prisoners  whom  we  left  on  the  island 
v.'ere  set  at  liberty  shortly  after  our  escape,  and  although  our 
suhenngs  m  the  wilderness  were  exceedingly  great,  yet  I 
never  found  cause  to  lament  that  I  improved  the  opportunity 
to  free  myself  from  the  hands  of  those  cruel  tormentors  .nd 
oppresr-ors  of  the  afflicted.  For  "  the  spirit  of  a  man  will 
sustain  his  infirmity."  And  under  this  consideration  we  chose 
rather  to  hazard  the  consequences  of  an  escape,  though  it 
might  prove  our  death,  tJian  to  become  the  menial  servants 
and  thus  gratify  the  infernal  desires,  of  a  petty  tyrant.  ' 

"  Now  I  fee],  by  proof, 
That  fellowship  in  pain  divides  not  smart, 
Nor  lightens  aught  each  man's  peculiar  load." 

I  have  never  had  th.;  satisfaction  to  hear  from  either  of  my 
friends  and  fellow-suiTerers,  Clark  aud  Sprague,  since  I  parted 
with  them  at  Bennington. 

Mr.  Belknap  now  lives  in  Randolph,  Vermont,  and,  from 
(he  sad  experience  of  the  like  sufferings  himself  and  his  par- 
tioipation  m  ray  own,  can  witne:;  to  the  truth  of  my  statement 


IT 


I 


I 


•»W^«»"«»I|I«|W 


CAPTIVITY    OF    2AD0CK   STEELE.  ^ 

was  concluded  between  Gr2  7  'f'-'P'^'  "  "■«="y  »f  Peace 
at  Park  .he  slad  IT.  J    [    ["^'"  ""''  ""=  ^'""^^  Slate. 

c  v^dr  naa  now  terminated,  mv  rpfm-n  t,^  t>     j  ,  , 

.Mo£t„.4irar:tr:--:r--- 

whfc  .  Z.  ed":rl,'i„n'  'T'  •"'  """=«  "-  "-""^-ed, 
aspect.  ./JetdweUi  n  Til  :!Zt''/''  -^'"^ 

-attend  fo/s:nrdi  j:  eS  ti:  ,„::f';s  in  '-"r '  "^^ 

when  he  d.ed  at  the  good  old  age  of  .evenly    L'       .  ' 

quaintance.  -"nerin,.     to  hia  fnends  and  ac- 

Generous  and  hospitable  by  nature  nn,l  i,„.  •      ■     ' 
by  my  sufferings  to  feel  for  urlrr  ^^     ""  '""«'" 

extend  the  ha'd  of  chari^  ,'  ,  e™''t  :ir;  7"  "''''' '" 
We,  alway,  the  abode  o^f  pC^':  aXlbr  t 
nAed^and  forlorn,  an  acceptable  h„„c  to  the 'poor  and  tt 

Aiwa,-,  exhibiting  a  sense  of  what  .ufierings  I  had  under- 


272 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


gone  for  want  of  food,  he  seemed  in  nothing  to  be  more 
delighted  than  "  to  feed  the  hungry  and  clothe  the  naked." 
My  loving  and  aged  step-mother,  with  one  of  her  sons,  (a  half- 
brother  of  mine,)  now  lives  on  the  same  farm. 

In  the  winter  of  1785  I  was  married  to  Hannah  ShurtUff, 
of  Tolland,  Connecticut,  and  settled  at  Randolph  not  far 
from  my  father's  house,  where  I  resided  eight  years,  when 
I  purchased  a  farm  and  removed  to  Brookfield,  a  town  ad- 
joining. 

Here  I  have  resided  until  the  present  time,  (1816,)  and  ob- 
tained my  own  subsistence  and  that  of  my  numerous  family 
by  means  of  cultivating  the  soil.  By  a  steady  course  of  in- 
dustry and  economy  I  have  been  enabled,  under  the  divine 
blessing,  to  acquire  a  comfortable  support,  and  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  ray  labors  in  quietude  and  peace.  As  my  occupation 
■was  that  of  a  farmer,  my  opportunities  for  information,  like 
those  of  many  others  of  my  class,  have  been  limited. 

My  family,  not  unlike  Job's,  consists  of  seven  sons  and 
three  daughters ;  nor  have  I  reason  to  think  my  afEictions 
much  inferior  to  his.  Although  death  has  never  been  per- 
mitted to  enter  my  dwelling  and  take  any  of  my  family,  yet 
my  substance  has  once  been  destroyed  by  worse  than  Chal- 
dean hands,  and  that,  *oo,  at  the  very  outset  of  my  adventures 
in  life.  Not  only  were  my  house  and  effects  destroyed,  but 
myself,  at  a  most  unpropitious  hour,  when  far  removed  from 
all  my  friends,  compelled  to  leave  my  employment,  relinquish 
all  those  objects  of  enterprise  peculiar  to  the  juvenile  age, 
and  forced  to  enter  the  ranks  of  a  savage  band  and  travel 
into  an  enemy's  country.  Thus  were  all  my  expectations  cut 
off.  My  hopes  were  blasted  and  my  youthful  prospects 
darkened.  "  I  was  not  in  safety,  neither  had  I  rest,  neither 
was  I  quiet ;  yet  trouble  came.  O  that  my  grief  were  thor- 
oughly weighed,  and  my  calamity  laid  in  the  balances  to- 
gether ! " 

Notwithstanding  that  inhumanity  and  cruelty  which  char- 


-  • 


CAPTIVITT   OF   ZADOCK    8TKELE. 


273 


ftcterized  the  conduct  of  the  savages,  yet  I  think  that  the 
barbarous  treatment  which  we  received  from  the  impious 
commanders  of  the  British  fort,  in  whose  charge  we  were 
kept,  might  put  to  the  blush  the  rudest  savage  who  traverses 
the  western  wild.  Their  conduct  illy  comported  with  what 
might  be  expected  from  men  who  are  favored  with  the  light 
of  revelation. 

The  savage,  when  he  does  a  deed  of  charity  towards  his 
prisoner,  is  no  doubt  less  liable  to  be  actuated  by  a  selfish 
principle,  and  influenced  by  the  hope  of  reward  or  by  a  fear 
of  losing  his  reputation,  than  he  is  who  has  been  made  ac- 
quainted with  the  gracious  reward  offered  to  those  who  "  do 
unto  others  as  they  would  that  others  should  do  unto  them," 
and  knows  the  bitter  fonsequen  ses  of  the  contrary  prac- 
tice. 

And  I  think  the  destruction  of  Royalton  and  all  its  evil 
consequences  may  with  less  propriety  be  attributed  to  the 
brutal  malevolence  of  the  savage  tribe  than  to  the  in-noble 
treachery  and  despicable  fanaticism  of  certain  individuals  of 
our  own  nation. 

Scarce  can  that  man  be  found  in  this  enlightened  country 
who  would  treat  his  enemy  with  as  much  tenderness  and  com- 
passion as  I  was  treated  by  the  savage  tribe  ;  though  I  had 
abundant  cause  to  say  that  the  "  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked 
are  cruel." 

Who  would  not  shudder  at  tLe  idea  of  being  compelled  to 
take  up  their  abode  with  a  herd  of  tawny  savages  ?  Yet, 
alas !  when  I  contrasted  the  sufferings  I  endured  while  with 
the  Indians  with  those  afflictions  that  were  laid  upon  me  by 
men  who  had  been  from  their  youth  favored  with  the  advantages 
of  civilization,  civ,  hM  with  authority,  and  distinguished  with  a 
badge  of  hon  .r,  could  truly  say  the  former  chastised  me 
with  whips,  but  i»>o  latter  with  scorpions. 

An  Indian  captivity  will  hardly  admit  of  a  comparison  with 


274 


INDIAN   NARRATIVEa. 


my  wretched  condition  while  in  the  hands  of  the  British  and 
under  the  domineering  power  of  a  company  of  refugees  and 
tones. 

While  with  the  Indians  my  food  was  unsavory  and  un- 
wholesome;  ray  clothing,  like  their  own,  was  scant  and  cov- 
ered  with  filthy  vermin ;  and  my  life  was  always  exposed  to 
the  danger  of  their  implacable  hatred  and  reven-e.     This 
was   a  most   perilous   condition  indeed   for  any  one   to   be 
placed  m.     But  my  confinement  with  the  British  multiplied 
my  complaints,  added    to  my  afflictions,  rendered  me  more 
exposed  10  the  danger  of  losing  my  life,  increased  my  sorrows, 
and  apparently  brought  me  near  the  grave.     My  food  was 
less  filthy;  hut  I  was  not  alloweu  the  half  of  what  my  ap- 
petite  .raved  and  my  nature  required  to  render  me  com- 
fortable. 

By  these  and  my  subsequent  afflictions  I  have  been  taucrht 
a  lesson  that  has  made  an  impression  upon  my  mind  which  I 
trust  -vill  remain  as  long  as  life,  shall  last. 
^  I  have  lee.,  tanght,  by  ocular  demonstration  and  sad  expe- 
rience, the  depravity  of  man,  and  the  fallacy  of  looking  for 
durable  happiness  in  terrestrial  things. 

My  own  sufferings  have  implanted  within  my  breast  that 
sympathy  for  the  distressed  which  is  better  felt  than  described 
Nakedness  and  poverty  have  once  been  my  companions;  and 
I  shall  not  readily  forget  to  lend  a  hstening  ear  to  the  cries  of 
the  needy. 

And  I  would  exhort  myself  and  all  my  fellow-men,  by 
the  extreme  sufferings  I  have  endured,  to  be  ready  at  all 
times  to  "feed  the  hungry  and  clothe  the  naked,"  nor  ever 
fail  to  extend  the  hand  of  cliarity  for  the  assistance  of  the 
unfortunate. 


M 


^ 


a 


The 


CAPTIVIXr    0*-   2AD0CK    STEELE. 


275 


^« 


( 

a 


Mmes  of  a  Part  of  the  Persons  killed  and  taken  at  the  Burn- 

ing  of  Royalton. 

Zadock  Steele,  taken  at  Randolph. 
Experience  Davis. 
Elias  Curtis. 
J.  Parks. 
Moses  Parsons. 

Simeon  Belknap,  now  living  in  Randolph. 

Samuel  Pember, 

Thomas  Pember,  kiUed  at  Royalton. 

Gardner  Rix,  now  living  at  Royalton. 

Daniel  Downer. 

Joseph  Kneeland,  killed  at  the  encampment  at  Randolph. 

Jonathan  Brown,  now  residing  in  WiUiamstown. 

Adan  Durkee,  died  at  Montreal. 

Joseph  Havens. 

Peter  Hutchinson. 

John  Hutchinson,  now  living  in  Bethel. 

"  Avery. 
John  Kent. 
Peter  Mason. 

Giles  Gibbs,  killed  at  Randolph. 
Elias  Button,  killed  at  Royalton. 
Nathaniel  Gilbert. 


The  following  Persons  were  released  by  the  Intercession  of 

Mrs.  Hendee. 

Daniel  Downer,  Jr. 
Andrew  Durkee. 
Michael  Hendee. 


276 


INfDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


Roswell  Parkhurst. 
Shelden  Durkee. 
Joseph  Rix. 
Rufus  Fish. 

Fish. 

Nathaniel  Evans. 


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